Casual listening

Interesting!

there certainly are different usage occasions for a hifi

good ones perform to make the owner/listener happy whichever the occasion may be, be it supplying casual background ambient tunes, to the most intent, focused listening

Not for me - I'm only playing my gear when I am actively listening to it - I don't keep music in the background for day-to-day activities, just like my TV is never on unless there is something I am particularly watching. That doesn't mean I'm evaluating the gear, just engaging brain more with music....

Hard for me to side with one camp over the other. With my present set up, I can luxuriate in the music, indulging my senses or listen casually with background music, which I've never been able to do before (on a daily basis). I think I found my audio niche. 

All the best,
Nonoise

Always looking for new interesting music no matter how it's recorded poor or good and always looking for undiscovered old music no matter how it's recorded poor or good. 

For me listening is not analyzing how it's recorded, but analyzing how it's played.

As to the volumes, mostly love it big, natural and revealing even for casual listening.