Part of cycling in general to me is the minimalism involved with it. I carry a leatherman (always), multi-function bike tool, patch kit, and pump when cycling for enjoyment. Other than that I have daily commute stuff, like laptop etc. But to me it's about thrusting a combination of steel, rubber, and plastics at a decent speed with nothing other than my body. Having all the sounds involved with riding my bike is part of my enjoyment. The drive train, cars, tires, and wind is part of my enjoyment. With out those aspects I would feel cheated.

Other people are clearly different. Suggesting to use ear plugs to new cyclists as an advantage is only doing them a disservice. It is clearly a highly subjective matter.