Personally, I look at photography as a journey. It is part of my life and therefore something that I value. I consider it a tool to lead me into adventure, relationships with other individuals, and above all fun. Several times over the years it has stopped being fun, either because I turned it into work, or I got sidetracked by a gear related thingy...
I have found that many people participate in photography for all kinds of reasons, some like the technical aspect, some the artistic, for some it is just a release from a stressful day. The problem with the internet as medium is that it tends to allow for the polarization of like views. This, initially, was not bad, because all types of photographers came together, but now we have distinctions and the opinions that go with that. For better or for worse, it will not change - for the majority.
Prior to being a Leica shooter, I too wondered what did people see in such a system. I felt that mirrorless was "the way". But what I found as a new Leica shooter is that there is no "the way", only what you prefer. For me moving to Leica was like having an illicit affair on Canon, it was fun again, it forced me to shoot in a completely different way, and ultimately, to see the world in a different way - photographically speaking.
In retrospect, unless you have tried a Leica, and I mean tried, because it is a learning curve, then you will not get it. For some, price is a barrier to entry and therefore they are excluded against their will. For others, they have different agenda's. The only part that I will never understand is the need to belittle another photographers equipment choice. But, for me, its about the photograph and not how it was acquired...