If you don't believe that the details count for anything why would you bother talking to and questioning "..all the talented people..". When you ask a question of someone they are going to talk to you or show you the details of the subject you asked about. Not sure what else you would call these bits of information other than details. You'll learn a whole lot more about something if you listen and watch what the instructor is telling / showing you. I play the fiddle(well ,play might be too strong a word) and I can't imagine how much worse I would be if it was strictly monkey see, monkey do type of lessons. The details that come out of peoples mouths, minds, and hands(books) are invaluable in learning whatever art or occupation you're trying to become proficient at.
I too play musical instruments.
The basics are all you need, the notes, some chords, some scales, that is it, the rest is practice. I have numerous friends who are musicians and my questions for them are not about details, they are about what they enjoy, what they practice etc. For me the same is true for taijiquan, when people have skills my favorite questions for them are not about theory, they are about basics and practice.
In my own training in taiji the most important instructions from my teacher were basics and what and how to practice. I like an example of a book I have about white crane qigong by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming, the basics are the qigong sets and the way to do them, the details about theory are secondary to those things, and the book does have lots of great details, but focusing on those does not yield the same benefit that focusing upon the basics does, and practicing them, of course. Math is another good example, knowing the basic theory of multiplication is simple, after that comes practice. Taiji is as a system for me a very simple martial art, it is not particularly complicated or difficult to understand, but skill does not come easily in it, again is is akin to learning an instrument, piano is a good example, a piano is ridiculously simple as an instrument, chords, keys, notes, octaves etc, this stuff is very easy to understand, however understanding such things does not make one skilled at piano, practice does.
The most advanced stuff in Taiji is comprised of the basics, much like the sign of skill with an instrument is the mastery of the basics, such as keys, scales and chords. The complex details and skills arise from and are composed of the basics. Mastery of the simple in taijiquan leads to mastery of the advanced and complex, there is little point in me seeking out advanced details, but I have everything to gain from the study and practice of the basics.
I will give an example from the WTBA about basics and advanced skill, the single hand push hands practice in this system when approached properly and mastered leads to incredible skill. Advanced skills in the system have more to do with this than the knowledge of any detail, and the basics for the drill are very easy to learn. Correction for this also involves the basics, getting them right. This simple and basic beginner exercise is also one of the most advanced teachings the system has to offer in terms of skill, just because it is basic stuff does not mean that it is not also the advanced stuff. Without this basic drill you can't get that far in the system no matter how much qigong or form work you practice.