Hifi V.s. The music makers

They are also looking for absolute "truth" to what they are hearing . no colorations. I ask why we are so determined to alter their work ?

Looking for absolute truth, audiophiles obsessed with toobz and other toyz such as panel speakers, horns that color sound a lot. Audiophile hook-up wires are also deliberately made with excessive reactance parameters so they are able to color the sound and 'make differences' for the arm-leg-worth spent. They don't realize that they're determined to alter musician's and sound engineer work. To keep listening experience same vs. original source, it's sufficient enough using similar class of equipment for the playback including similar studio grade wires.
One who wants to appreciate sound that 'came out' from studio, should probably go into the studio monitors such as KRK or Event and descent pro-grade player.

I'd prefer great musician over great recording.
Listening to virtuosos and maestros via cheap system in MP3 format can bring joy as well regardless of recording or playback quality.

Russ, this and that is true, but no great recording artist can make poor performance great while great musician can turn poor recording sound great.