The value of a balanced system using balanced lines is not confined to those two goals. This is where you drift into circular reasoning. (As you well know, balanced systems also enjoy the benefit of CMNR, whether AES48 compliant or not.) Nor is it true that being non-compliant with AES48 inherently subjects a product to being sensitive to ground loops.
@cleeds Yes, we covered other aspects already. I do not see how there is circular reasoning, but I do feel I've been having to repeat myself on this a bit 😁 That's circular, isn't it?
It is true that if the component does not support AES48 that it will be open to ground loops. This isn't to say that will always happen, just as with single-ended gear it doesn't always happen. But if you don't take steps to deal with the ground loop issue, it'll be a problem sooner or later. This is fact, simply because ground is being referenced by the equipment, and when ground is referenced, then noise in the ground can get amplified. That is why in balanced systems going back 70 years ground is ignored.
I don't care to debate this either since I've repeated myself so much (not all on this thread). I have been amazed at how much misinformation exists around this topic. But if you have the interest, you might take a look at this book on transformers by Bill Whitlock, of Jensen Transformers fame.
If you look at the schematics, you'll see there are no center taps- that in fact the balanced inputs and balanced outputs are always floating.