'Liking for its own sake' is not quite enough. The first question is whether quantum mechanics would have been invented in the first place if it wasn't for experiments that showed that it was necessary. The second question is even if it was invented, would anyone bother to study anything beyond a single particle wave function? A wave function by itself is not yet quantum mechanics, there is quite a bit of wave mechanics in classical physics. I am quite sure that if quantum mechanics was not necessary nobody would attempt to say anything about a quantum mechanical carbon atom. I.e., a quantum mechanical six body problem. Let alone quantum field theory.
General Relativity much more natural than quantum mechanics. It was mostly created from a theoretical motivation. People were dragged towards quantum mechanics kicking and screaming and it took about 30 years to develop.
General Relativity much more natural than quantum mechanics. It was mostly created from a theoretical motivation. People were dragged towards quantum mechanics kicking and screaming and it took about 30 years to develop.