I am a Black Metaller - I don't care for tone AND I can not play anything challenging
It's all about evoking some demons here - and a tiny bit fun making music. But not too much fun - you know, it's still Black Metal
But seriously, I can understand all kind of people. For example, I know a few people that just love guitars... more than playing or recording or writing songs. They just love the look, the feel, the smell of their guitars spending most of their time polishing and upgrading.
Others love "tone" or the "quest of getting THE tone". Some famous mixing engineers and producers have made this a profession - and they do unbelievable, crazy, obsessive things to get the right tone
Of course it can be a rabbit hole. But if some people get happy digging rabbit holes, they should do so.
I have to admit, I learned a lot from such "freaks" and "gear nerds", because they are experts in their "world". And I also learned much from people that "only" can play guitar but have no clue about ANYTHING else. I think they must have a deal with Satan. But wait, I have too, but still I can not play as good