Commentary:

So not looking for what is sublime - be it sounds, colors, flavours etc. - is the sage approach? You know of many people today who learn about these beauties and look for and cultivate them for they are the expression of the modern cultured man. Why is this not the same with the Taoist sage?

The text says: "the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly". That is, he is pleased with only food and drink and rejects everything else. I think this text is a criticism of the Confucian ethics intended in shaping the noble man who will rule the world. It is the Confucian leader as fashioned by Confucius. Taoist are not interested in this. They seek the natural and the "what-is" without any interference of the humans.

But what is wrong with these interferences? Lao-tzu says: "(They) make mad the mind!" as much as to change the people conduct into evil. In other words, when you follow the Confucian ethical teachings you loose your natural state of your mind and are led to the evil.  Which is, obviously, wrong.