So many variables with audio

The hyperbole in your question --- "a million different answers" to a question --- distorts the issue. For example, most questions are much simpler than this and get *relatively* few reasonable answers.  It is apparently fun for some to ask "millions" of philosophical (non-audio) questions in the discussion forums, though. 

I think therefore I am.

My rough guide
1. Go listen to as much live music as you can, then
2. Go listen as many systems as you can find
3. Figure out what characteristics you would like in your system
4. Seek out components that delivers those characteristics
5. Tweak to maximize full potential before you rush to sell
6. Build your system to suit you - don't follow audiophile  dogma.
7. Be open minded - test and experiment.
8. Be ruthless and cut the dogs.

Excellent advice- hew.

Audiophiles often have very strong opinions and aren't shy about sharing them.  Some of those opinions are rooted in a high amount of "judgementalism", but this is a hobby, and if you like something that some other "expert" doesn't like, I wouldn't sweat over it.

Once I got to a certain "level" in the equipment, I continued to upgrade my equipment and found it was best (for me) to make one change at a time, so I could appreciate and "digest" the effects that change made, "dial in" the new piece, etc. before making the next change.

I'm finding now that I have much better equipment than I ever thought I'd have, that the next step is to understand and improve the limitations that the room acoustics present.