[shabbray2.0]

When I saw that topic I was excited. after I read your first post I dont know what to add to this.
its almost the exact things which come to my mind (and even more).
but I try to enhance it with a developing-story:

I once was totally a guitar guy for the reasons you already said. after some time I learned the difference of keyboardists and synth-player out of a rock context and developed an interest to old analog synths. afterwards it never surprised me, cause I always was more interested in stompboxes as sound-creating devices then in the guitar itself.
from the dumb "only rock music is music" - teenager I developed this way to someone who is interested in sounds in general no matter where they come from.
the drums came last for me.
I cant rememer if I actually "listened" to them as a teen or if I just felt them subconcious. never thought about how damn important a drum sound is to a recording that features a drum sound.
alone the sound of a kickdrum can decide if a driving tune will work or not.
I highly agree with you over the last sentence, best example is hip hop. I bet each sample would also sound different if other drum sounds would be used.

ah yes, one thing that hasnt changed: I still prefer real-life instruments over software. and I prefer playing over programming.

hope I didnt drift too far off here.
so for me it must be:

STOMPBOXES // SYNTH (ANALOG)
GUITAR
DRUMS