I still think that study is ridiculous.
I do agree that it is more interesting to talk to someone who knows what they are talking about than someone who is uneducated about it. I think it's important to have more than superficial grasp of important topics like philosophy, politics, literature, and film. But here we are talking about education, not mastering a skill. I don't find it particularly interesting to hear about how someone mastered a skill--I would rather see the results of the skill. I'd bore every listener silly if I explained to them how you voice chords for jazz piano. You need to know it to be a good jazz pianist, but it's not inherently interesting.
I know what you mean about the people whose music experience is limited to Guitar Hero and their piano lessons as a kid when they hated to practice, and they are so mad at themselves now for not continuing their piano studies. I hear this at least once a week. It's not exactly scintillating conversation. Luckily, my friends, even if they are not musicians, are well-versed in various musical styles and can converse intelligently about them.
