BEagle, you don't know what you missed. The multi-role days at the beginning of the RAF operational F4 period were without doubt the best. In its' time the F4 must have been the most capable multi-role fighter ever produced and training to meet that challenge was most satisfying.
Whilst one would not pretend that it was easy to master Recce, GA and AD it was well worthwhile trying as was proved in Cyprus in '74 when the required task changed as often as the surface wind.
Small air forces need flexibility and the F4 certainly provided the means - provided, of course, that the crews were up to it.
Thereby was the challenge and the satisfaction.