I've always had this same outlook on sound, but could never manage to provoke any discussion
Unlike most, my first experience hearing a mustang was a modular, and I fell in love with that sound. Now I'm not saying my 5.0 sounds like an ls1 or anything, it still sounds excellent, but different. The modulars just sound... volatile, aggressive, angry? This comes from the configuration of the motor, period. The style can be changed with different exhaust setups, but that basic sound remains. 5.0s have their own sound, more rowdy, grunty and breathy (Im making up adjectives.. but you get the idea
). If you change the configuration of the motor (h/c/i, forced induction) and therefore the behaviour of air through the engine, you will alter the sound, but won't get it to sound like a different motor.
Long story short, the 5.0 was in my price range, sounds bad ass, and has so many positives to it. I've learned to accept I won't get that modular sound, so I don't even try