I think the whole 'figure out what floats your boat' part is really important.
Obviously IO540 likes touring, I found it mostly boring, unless going somewhere 'new'. That required further and further afield and got rather expensive. For me, aerobatics was the saviour, many would hate it.. I also collect ratings and interesting types, for me the joy is in the stick'n'rudder skills and I don't mind flying dual.. Neither is right or wrong, matter of personal taste.