Never been chopped, but as there's a lot of FJ - rotary - nav banter going on maybe I can contribute
Went straight in as a Nav as eyesight was below pilot standard, got straight through without being recoursed. Thoroughly enjoyed being down the back, but always had a nagging feeling that I was missing something.
Fast forward 30 years and started a PPL at age 60. Two highpoints. One obviously was first solo after a total of - wait for it - 27 hours!!! (Not a record, Im assured, but I was being to feel like that Welsh woman learning to drive). Other highpoint - first solo landaway - Lands End - Perranporth - Lands End. Got as much of a kick out of that as pretty much anything I have ever done.
I know there are guys on here with multi thousands of hours flying scores of types, but just that one little day's flying means I can in some small way count myself as part of their world
(Still think of myself as a nav though
)