>>3528907People have their own reasons for taking photos. Some enjoy the technical side, some just like to make things that look nice. Others enjoy documenting things, making people feel emotions through their photos, shedding some light on an unknown story, taking photos for family members etc. Photography as a field is huge. There are (and have been) plenty of photographers that create meaningful work.
>I've been getting more into photography recentlyThere’s a lot you can learn from the history of photography. You'll find that many great photos don't follow the rules at all and would get shit on if posted here. This is where like you said context is important. Some photos were taken during social movements or times of conflict and are not technically impressive at all, but that does not matter if they can do something like convey what it felt like to be there
Your audience also matters (or doesn't). You can try to please everyone by making a cool looking photo that no one will really think twice about or take photos for your family, friends, your partner, or a small group of people and have it mean the world to them.
Holy shit I suck at writing. Anyways I recently finished my first book about photography (The Documentary Impulse - Stuart Franklin) and I don't really care as much about gear anymore. Photography is and has been so much more than that. Just stay away from youtube and instagram and people trying to sell you presets and look more into the fine art, philosophy, and historical side to it, if you want. You don't even have to do all that, just go out and shoot for yourself and of things you like that have meaning to you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ih3WgeOLshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnED6AFgs_4 