I don't listen to music while quaking. You can't hear the sounds otherwise. The sounds of Fragmaster screaming in agony after I've killed him for the 10th time in a row is all the music I need. It's kinda important, but not essential. Ping doesn't matter, what's more important is the length of your toenails.
Ping is essential.
Depends on what kind of BOT the person is using. I can't play at a ping above 100. Also because he wrote this really lame poll choice. And his ferrets are possessed.