My couple of friends who are more on the music theory side are really into it for the personal growth aspect and treat it like musical sudoku. Unfortunately it can be pretty isolating if when you [rightfully] can't stomach the jerks in the scene.

Story time, one of my bffs tried to get into a audition only college jazz program after high school. He was really good, had been taking lessons for years, was in high school jazz band, etc. etc. He didn't make the cut because it was so competitive and it honestly broke the guy. So unfair to kill the dream of a talented young person like that. I think it was his lack of connections tbh