Maybe critical listening skills are bad?

Over many decades and much equipment I'm trying to think of a single piece I purchased based solely on a single professional review. Early on prior to internet/social media my purchases all based on listening at dealers and shows. Since social media I need to see many user reviews over a relatively long term to consider purchase, professional reviews mean very little. Their opinions based on relatively short term listening, likely in a system very different from mine, and agendas not fully disclosed. Professional reviewers obsolete for me.

Obviously critical listening skills are bad. Without them you might be able to just enjoy the music. Or not. Without them you'll never have to worry, or if not, you won't have the skills to fix a problem you can't diagnose. 

For OP, how do you distinguish critical listening skills from plain old ordinary ones? What skills do you use to set up a new system? Listen to music? Is it really a shortage of hearing skills or just audio sloth? 

Back under the bridge. :-)

Eventually you will move from critical listening skills back to enjoyment listening.

It is easy to get caught up in something that a speaker does that is not commonly found in such abundance and the thrill of that experience can cloud judgment; after some time, that very quality that attracted you to that speaker becomes its bane.  

There is a brand of speakers, I will not say which, that is extremely dynamic and exciting sounding, and most speakers sound comparatively lifeless, yet after a time, many listeners grow tired of its bright, etched, hyper-detailed sound.  It helps to have some experience and critical abilities to identify what may become an annoyance in the future.

I agree that A/B short term listening skills can get in the way of choosing good speakers. This strategy can easily work against you. By moving your minds eye (ear) around the sound stage you are evaluating things like detail, transients of one frequency or instrument, or decay of an instrument or sound. While these are important aspects of performance they do not add up to great sounding speakers. This can add up to analytical, highly detailed, fast, and lean sound with great bass and slam. The gestalt of these can completely be devoid of music, warmth, beauty and natural emotional involvement. Great scientific instruments for anlysing sound, but not for reproducing music.

So, there can be a downside. Some folks, from the very start get this and pursue the musical center... but in my experience they are few and far between and start (virtually without exception) with tube equipment and stay with it. I was not one of these people... I learned the hard way by constructing an incredible detailed system which was emotionally involving. In my defense I have heard many much worse... and much more costly. 

The longer term listening... A/B over a week (my preference)... but a couple of days works is the only way to access what is important. How much you are drawn in. and the sound field... you almost discover the attributes in reverse of short term... by starting with the gestalt and then working in on the major strengths and weakness in a natural priority.