I would ignorantly feel very happy with myself if I dream about the Holy Buddha. Yet, it is just a namarupa (sound & sight / name & form); something you see with your eyes and hear with your ears.
As I understand it (not realized though) that all experiences are nāma-rūpa in dependence on consciousness (as per dependent origination/paticcasamuppada), but the path can use skillful perceptions to cultivate wholesome qualities. For example, recollecting the qualities of Buddha (buddhānussati) is praised in suttas for generating gladness, serenity, and samādhi. So even if we see any image in dream, if it leads to faith, generosity, or commitment to precepts upon waking, it can be skillful. Also a wholesome perception that inspires faith, virtue, or compassion is not the same as one that inflames greed or conceit, even if both can be clung to. I also think (same as you) the problem is not the image, but clinging, craving, wrong view, or conceit about it.
Interesting how in dreams you just see and hear, there is no smelling, tasting or touching. It’s like you become a half-brahma… kamaloka form with brahmaloka senses.
But as far as I remember, I have dreamt of eating some tasty foods and I have also experienced sense of ‘touching’ or ‘tactile sensation’ in dreams, ‘flying’ included. Maybe it is subjective. But yes sometimes it is interesting, except the scary dreams though.
