I’ve found the opposite. Turning down the volume helps tremendously. The further from 11 you get, the better a bad player sounds.

The converse is also true, and applies to both guitar and drums. Being able to play quietly, with intensity and energy, is one of the hallmarks of a better player. "Good player but plays too loud" is a euphemism for "bad player."

Preserving your hearing is a factor.

Source: Bassist. ;-)

Really? I feel the opposite. All the poor string muting really shines through :(

(source: crappy guitarist me)

I think this says more about the general state of guitar playing than anything else.