“Do you actually think the “yeshiva” world puts Torah and halacha before everything else?”
Yes, I think this is the underlying ideology of the Yeshiva world.
“I do not think a black hat or non black hat makes one a better Jew.”
I think your missing my point here. I’m not trying to suggest that every person wearing a black hat is automatically a good Jew. What I am saying is that the ideology of the Yeshiva movement as a whole is one of putting the Torah and Halacha above else; and that this is a marvelous ideology to identify oneself with. Of course, every culture will have its imperfections and its creeps; but the underlying philosophy of the Yeshiva world is one worth adopting.
“After 120, they are not going to ask you the color of your hat. I promise you that!”
True. But they will ask you what group of people and what ideology you identified yourself with.