It's both and something else too. It's a lot of fun to tinker, learn, design, and grow in the hobby. Add to that the love of music faithfully reproduced and !Viola! A payoff for your hard work.
Most HiFi guys are aesthetics- lovers of beauty, symmetry and perfection. Some call this snooty or uppity but the pursuit of excellence demands dismissal of the imperfect. This can be offensive to the folks who's patron saint is Mediocrities.