digicidal
Major Contributor
I likes me some horribly distorted noises myself from time to time. I also paint and know what you mean. My point, at least for myself, is that obsessively pursuing the "absolute sound" via recordings is a losing game.
Yes, I would definitely agree - even the best can only be a mediocre analog (in both senses). However, I do understand the compulsiveness that "gear" (of any kind) has with some people. I guess I'm lucky that I have enough of them that they cancel each other out and make me seem more normal. I mean I could have a six-figure hifi in a dedicated room... but then I'd have to drive a Corolla. I could have a McLaren 720s Spider, but then I'd have to live in an apartment. I could probably do both if I was single... but then life itself would lose purpose IMO. Or I could just paint all day long and likely not have a wife, house, car, hifi, or maybe even pants.
I think obsessions (controlled ones at least), like many goals are fine - if you actually could have/do/be everything you dream of... what keeps you going then? As long as it isn't too all consuming, it can even be constructive in leading you to either appreciate what you are able to achieve in that area - or at least give you something to aspire to in the future. Although maybe that's just romanticizing my own irrationality in order to justify persisting in it.