This is my music. Yes, it does sound rebellious, but forcing myself to use alternative tunings has forced my mind open. It has also helped me to perfect some of the lowest levels of tools such as computer music and tonality. Instead of using expensive midi sequencers, I started using Csound. Csound handles alternative tunings without a complaint, but for live music I have also to refret and make instruments.
Music IS pop music, and there's no debating that.
Some people say that classical music, or oldies, or rockabilly is music, and they're right, because those were once pop music. An artist must make pop music, for the people. This goal can almost be included in the previous one, but not quite. I believe, as most ethnomusicologists believe, that music was first an imitation of voices, bird songs, and the rhythmic click and bump of hammering iron. John Cage imitated stones falling and banging around for a while, but he went astray and tried to do some silly art music that expressed a concept.