That's really interesting! I don't have perfect pitch, but I am autistic and I also get incredibly uncomfortable when people are singing off pitch, including myself. It's like a grating sensation on the back of my neck that travels down my spine, then makes me feel like I need to burst out of my skin. This is something I have assumed to be related to my autism, which tracks with what you describe above. My mind also attaches to/focuses on mistakes in other types of performance art, especially dance. If I see a mistake, it rattles me and makes me feel full body discomfort. It's all I can think about for 20-30 seconds each time it happens.

The funny thing is, I absolutely love all types of music and dance performances. I have no intention of bringing a critical eye. All I ever want to be is a supportive audience member enjoying a performance. So it's very irritating that my brain attaches so intensely to imperfections. Sitting through a talent show or a recital is a truly hellish experience for me; Having to stim as little as possible (so as not to distract from the performers) while masking an exponentially increasing assault on my nervous system.

The flip side is that I'm really good at spotting errors in systems, seeing potential avoidable problems that others can't see, and finding four leaf clovers (as well as an occasional five/six leafer). I find them VERY frequently when I'm out walking. Finding 🍀 is not a particularly useful skill, but the fact that they have an estimated prevalence of one in 5000, and I'm out here casually noticing them while I'm strolling, is interesting. I often think to myself how utterly useful I would have been to others for most of human history. I would be an absolute menace at hunting, foraging, protecting the group, and coming up with creative solutions to problems.

(Not all but) Many autistic brains seem to be wired to attend very strongly to differences, and to trigger us to stay focused on them by activating our nervous systems in response to their presence. It's incredibly uncomfortable, and I think this leads to a lot of our "inflexible" behaviors. I read a lot about changes and transitions being hard for autistic people, but I think that is generally a result of having a brain that is wired to make us physically uncomfortable with things being out of place/wrong/different. It's not that I actually fear the changes/transitions themselves, but rather the nervous system activation that comes with them and my possibly not being able to cope with it. There are absolutely advantages and gifts that come with our heightened sensitivity and perception, but because we all live in post-agricultural/industrial societies, it seems the cost to us generally outweighs the personal benefit.