> it just feels physically nice to remove the background noise whether it's the noise

I thought about it and I found that after so many years my mind can just fade the noise out and I doesn't bother me at all. It also helped me to hear selectively. On the other hand, when I wear noise cancelling headphones it feels weird, like detached from the reality I am present.

Only place I prefer to wear them is open plan office. Too many conversations and many grab attention needlessly.