What Matters? Perspective...

Tone?
Gate?
Personal satisfaction?

Music...all that matters is communication. The sharing of thoughts and ideas. 'Ah-ha!'s and I see's.'
"How'd they do that?"
Some have personal satisfaction above the mix. Like the world, really. So many musicians are assholes - actually and inordinate amount. Ego is a driving force in public expression.
Few and far between are the souls in search of new horizons and new ways of speaking, expression...communicating.

The first time you got high and that ah ha moment when you saw the contrast between pot flavored reality and the run of the mill variety. And you HAD to share it with the person you were with.
I recall explaining it over and over to someone a few years older and wiser; who knew everything I was about to say and yet allowed me free expression - I discovered getting high!

It was a Birthday gig. A repeat performance. In in itself that is not bad at all. Paying gig, too. And the other two musicians were, up to this point, not the best of friends. This seemed to make things better.

So now, who am I communicating with? The audience of semi conscious people? The rest of the band? (Almost as inebriated a the audience)

A smile comes as I realize I am speaking to no one in particular. I am wireless and free. My guitar has a distinct voice that I can manipulate and bend to suit. I can communicate.

When you play with others there is an energy. When you are ensconced and alone that interplay is lacking.
But were you to talk to no one in particular - to every one together.