How to stop using the "I" button on mixer channels

Hi to all

If I select the Trem-O-Voice (or whatever) audio track in the Main window I hear my guitar. When I record I hear it as well. But if I just hit play in order to practice the part I hear nothing, although the channel strip registers the sound.

Is this somehow tied up with the input button on the Mixer channel strips? If I select the I button there I can hear the sound while playing. If possible I'd like to abandon using the "Input" button altogether. I've removed it from the Main window. It lives on on the Mixer channel strips. I have deselected the "Input monitoring only for the focused track..." in Preferences: Audio: General."

It's certainly not a show-stopper, it just seems needlessly complicated. I've attached a screenshot.

Jim

Just that easy.

Thank you, Triplets.