Another dimension to this discussion is appreciating some music or artists because of how good their music sounds. Not my gear, but the recording quality.
In 2017 I came across a local news article about a young female recording engineer who was up for a Grammy. So I listened to the album mostly out of curiosity.
I immediately fell in love with the sound of the record and by the end of the album I was in love with the music and artist.
The album was Undercurrent by Sarah Jarosz. After listening to it obsessively, I found it was not her debut album but her fourth. As I went back through her earlier records, there was that same beautiful soundscape and voice. She's now my favorite artist,and just released her 7th album.
I also discovered that Sarah's recording engineer cut his teeth working with Allison Krause, so it all made musical sense.
All of this musical joy just from curiosity about sound. It's happened before (Buddy Miller) and will likely again. So in that sense sometimes I listen just for sound and discover music I love.
I also routinely listen to records that win Engineering Grammys as potential music I might like.