Are we training our ears right?

This subject comes up a lot, and degenerates into questions about what the human brain/ear mechanism is capable of hearing. 

I want to instead discuss what we should be listening for. 

Too many of us (myself often included) treat audio gear as it's own goal.  We train ourselves to hear differences for no other reason than to hear differences.   I got started ages ago in motion picture audio.  Think 1,500 seat auditoriums, not home theater.  I was constantly paying attention to dust on the film and crackling in the surround.  I often couldn't tell if a movie was good or bad because I was trying to clean the film or trace down equipment which was malfunctioning.  It's a terrible way to enjoy movies.  

Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that you can train yourself to hear differences in a fuse.  WHY would you do that?  How does that let you enjoy the 45th live recording of the Grateful Dead's Truckin' ?  The neighbor who 100% cannot hear a difference in fuses is going to enjoy your stereo better than you can. 

I'm going to argue that learning to listen to equipment this well is for manufacturers and reviewers.  Maybe we are trying to outdo them, I don't know, but it's not a road that leads us to enjoying music, is it?