Of course the tweaking of analog (or any other) synthesizer (or any other audio related thing) must be done by ear, but understanding the physics behind speeds up you in your quest for ‘the sound’.
And then there were people who were both, like Roger Powell. But you could also be a techician, who perfectly understand the music, like Bob Moog.
I’ve always found the science (math/physics) relation to music quite easy. They should never be the driving force behind the music (as late Joe Meek said: ‘If it sounds right, it is right’), but they are great tools which helps you to get the things ‘right’.
Wow! I’m just as old as you (1 month short of 45). Yes, science is the vital part … but then … nothing prevents you from creating great music without knowing the s*it of the science behind. But knowing the science can help you to analyze the things behind music and give you hints how to improve your results.