Genghis - If it helps, my private flying has mainly been in spam cans with a few wonderful hours in Cubs and a couple of happy forays into LAA types. My flying activity has been, what you might term, sporadic, with spurts of activity and long bouts of enforced wishful thinking.
overandout - Your post has certainly got me thinking.
Mono, I know that I could never give up entirely and the LAA route is almost certainly the preferred option.
Thanks, everyone, for your contributions so far, they are all welcome and very gratefully received.