Why do some think "music" (not gear, trading, etc.) is the ultimate end?

@fuzztone  Why do you answer or read "dopey" questions? Maybe it's not as dopey as you think. I took time to word the question carefully and I'm not inclined to waste people's time. So, please just refrain from answering my OP's if you think they're dopey. Kindly avoid insulting me, is what I'm saying. 

just curious: is there anyone here who doesn’t care all that much about music BUT either (1) loves to design, build or tinker with gear (I assume there are plenty of serious "a-philes" who fit this category); or more interesting question (2) loves to buy, trade, tweak, and try to improve their system (but doesn’t really do any more than minimal repair/work on that system, and again isn’t all that interested in music).   (I assume that in the case of car enthusiasts, there are plenty of car-nuts who would fit both categories:  you work on your '56 Chevy [or you buy one] primarily to take it to auto-shows, not to go for drives in the country).

Some people like hardware, others prefer software. Some men liked Ginger, some liked Mary Ann. In the case of music vs equipment, one is necessary to and enhances, the other.

A relative who recently auditioned my system (a Maggie owner!) decided, after some discussion that I was "merely" listening to equipment and not to music. I was dumbfounded and could only reply: "Something wrong with that?" Crickets!
Back in the day, I bought a new, special order, Mustang Mach I in a Thunderbird color. Gorgeous. No relative accused me of "merely" wanting to go fast. They knew that this guy is more complicated than that. I might as well go ahead and whine a bit that a family member might actually think I could sit for hours and listen to equipment! Hello!
The true objection probably has to do with the amount of money we spend on what is primarily a solitary, obviously pleasurable and often intrusive hobby that many see as spoiling their own conception of music as a background for Whatever.  I just bought an expensive recorder. The flute thing. Relative asks, "Is it a real recorder?" Honestly, would any audiophile settle for a plastic instrument? But no accusations of "You just want it for the cool wood!" Need I go on?
Maybe if I leave my expensive recorder out on the table during listening sessions others will understand that I have reason to listen intently to everything involving music--not just the mood of the orchestrations. I listen critically to: my gear, the gear at (usually Qobuz), the gear at the recording session, the musicians’ gear, and finally the mics and then the actual sound I want to catch in mid-air. With new technology, I’m usually evaluating recording quality and performance quality. Sometimes the sound quality of a specific instrument. Is that the same as "music?"

For me, buying gear is a difficult task, not really fun I also am not too keen on following the advice of an expert on what to get so I do the DD myself. Though I want to hear their opinion. The internet is a great equalizer for me on this regard.

Listening to music is easy and fun. Only problem is I spend too much time posting like this while I listen to music instead of doing my actual work.

I recently made some audio buys (after all the DD I did) and audio tweaks that make me extremely satisfied with the sound I am now getting. I feel like the hard part is now done and the easy road lies ahead.