I don't have the expertise that most of you do but this is an interesting question.
I don't think about color very much when I'm searching for a photo but I do recognize it when its there. Soft filtered light on fall leaves, a brash conflicting color amongst other colors, etc.
I'm only recently getting back into photography and when I shot 35mm I went for the realist approach and never added objects or color to photos.
Now that I have an editing program at my disposal, I find myself manipulating color quite often. It is often necessary to bring out the 'feel' of the photo I wanted.
I'm beginning to manipulate to black and white also which I'm sure is much to your chagrin, Ronnoco(wink), but I do think sometimes black and white is called for to bring out the mood.