I think it was me who introduced the word 'academic' here. It certainly was not meant pejoratively- I'd EXPECT academics to take their work seriously, and we shoould all be grateful for the academic work of collectors, with all their faults.
I think we have the same piper in mind, Dick, from Skibbereen? - he's obviously not respected by you anyway, and although I've never heard him play, my point stands.

One prominent musician and collector, speaking of another technically proficient player who spent a lot of time with the wonderful Scan Tester, said this to me years ago ...

'yes, he learned all the tunes, but nothing else'......