As far as not following the herd into the airline world....yes.
You are right about the different paths possible - but one thing that MANY people forget is that the AIRLINE business is ONE PART of the AVIATION industry.
I did not hate flying, nor did I hate the industry. It actually worked out well for me, but it simply wasn't the right path. No harm, no foul.
It sounds like you never tried general aviation either - aircraft renting, share, or ownership?
Can you say where you found the "...the camraderie, the sense of mission, the overseas assignments, etc. that [you] missed so much."?
Thanks for sharing your story.