"Then, it slid neatly into a conversation about how Reading is so much superior."

It did not - you just interpreted it as that - and you did admit that a lack of your capability in that direction colors your thought processes.

What WAS said is that is IS an essential REAL Musical Skill - but that many can (and have done so for generations!) function quite acceptably as performers without it. Also - though you may not have come across it personally - is that many Second Rate 'Posers' loudly and obnoxiously try to put down any who DO have that skill as if it is not needed 'for real music'.