Glory,
you get credit for admitting your pig-headedness during your junior years & you get credit for finally maturing & realizing that hi-(sp)end audio is a very subjective hobby/obsession & that 2 people listening to your very own system at the same time will hear differently. So, what works for your system & you does not necessarily work for another + vice-versa.
Welcome to enlightenment - atleast you achieved it during this life-time. Bravo! :-)