But throughout my whole life up to that point (the question even appeared in the animated series Beetlejuice that I saw when I was little), I had assumed a different question was being asked: specifically,

If a tree falls, and no human (or human-entangled[1] sensor) is around to hear it, does it still make vibrations? On what basis do you believe this, lacking a way to directly check? (Call this "Question S".)

Me too! It was actually explained that way to me by my parents as a kid, in fact. I wonder if there are two subtly different versions floating around or EY just interpreted it uncharitably.