I appreciate your honestly. I'm high as fukk but let me see if I can help shed some light.
It's not so much an investment in him as a person, since I doubt that anyone here personally knew him. It's more of an investment in the times of our lives that this music is associated with.
While I have tremendous respect for Prince as a musician (and life coach) I had more of a connection to Michael Jackson than him, and I remember being a little kid, in my Thriller pajamas, writing a letter to Michael asking for an autograph. Playing his music on my tiny toy record player, trying to moonwalk across my floor. When he passed, those memories of a simpler time with my family, alive, young and healthy, enjoying life with no cares or concerns all came back. Music has that power, and when someone like Prince passes away, a generation of people whose memories were formed to his music is suddenly reminded of people and situations they may not have thought of in years. It can be incredibly emotional.