"PERFECT sound"
I think we all agree that means; Sound with the minimum of compromises according to our tastes.
What's It All About?
I've given this much thought and finally come to a conclusion. This whole audiophile system building "hobby" is exactly like designing and having built a high end kitchen. Some people get the basic triangle right and then everything just flows. Other people get hung up on the backsplash tile and cabinet knobs and probably remodel within five years.
Maybe it's not what's it all about, but then neither is the hokey pokey.