[readymade]

I didn't necessarily think you were being unfair to "rich people", I just don't buy the idea that only the wealthy have access to non-virtual instruments. It might make the difference between a new(er) and a used car for someone on a budget, but that's old hat. Musicians have been saving up to buy gear for generations.

Choice of instrument is a very personal decision, and of course there are practical considerations (I'm not going to be lugging an acoustic piano on stage any time soon). If you like virtual instruments and usb controllers best, more power to you.

For many modular synth enthusiasts the interface is actually primary, over other considerations such as the mechanism of synthesis and sound. A growing number of modules are digital, with only the control voltage I/O in the analog domain. For these the appeal is still the same; something you touch with your hands, immediacy, freedom from the tyrrany of endless options, something you can't check Facebook on, etc. Speaking for myself, I feel like I'm using a different part of my brain when I plug a cable into a physical jack as opposed to dragging a virtual cable across a plate of glass. That's not even to get into the question of how it sounds, which is still relevant. I disagree with your characterization of acoustic piano vs digital sampling, although it's not really worth getting into the nuances here.