Whether or not Christ-like perfection is obtainable, I believe we should desire that. No, being perfect is not a pre-requisite for salvation because no one gets salvation through self-effort. However, being good, righteous, holy, and obeying God's commands are part of the test of life as a Christian because we know the truth about Christ: he was crucified, buried, and rose again on the third day. Christians are tested for the purpose of bringing God glory. God wants glory.
I digress a bit, but back to my point. We should atleast believe we can be Christ-like, albeit not Christ Himself or God.
2 Corinthians 3:18
18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Romans 8:29
29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Hebrews 2:10
10For it became him, for whom
are all things, and by whom
are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.