Early B, thanks for the clarification. And you have made interesting points and i am sure it will lead to interesting discussions.
It is true that we can have great enjoyment regardless of the "quality" of the music reproduction, I have enjoyed music in my car, which has crappy factory audio, whatever that is. And there are days I have NOT enjoyed music in my much higher "quality" sound system. Perhaps it is just a state of mind, if you enjoy it, it will be fine whatever system it comes out of.
And speaking of live performance, I recently attended a couple of opera performances (in Royal Opera House and Teatro di Roma), with great seats (row 7/9) and I immensely enjoyed the spacious and dynamic sound, instrumental timbre has so much detail, bass is fast, dynamic, defined, but at the same time not loud. I don't get that type of sound in any stereo system.
However, I find it more enjoyable as my system improves. Imaging improvement, frequency balance improvement, bass response are the the qualities that give me most enjoyment. These days I have enough treatment in my room that I find more and more music enjoyable to listen to and they give me much joy.
So, in general I find more enjoyment while listening to a "better" system. Isn't that what we are here for?