i would agree with you! An aircraft is a means of transport like any other and has to have a purpose. A dozen times around the local area after achieving a PPL and taking up family and friends and the holes appear both in practicality and cost.
I have to disagree with this. A light aircraft can be a means of transport, but most aren't because of wx limitations of pilots and aircraft; the tiny percentage that are fully wx compliant (Full IFR, de-iced, preferably multi engine with good engine-out performance, IR pilot, suitably equiped airfield) are vastly out weighed by the 'fun, fair wx' machines, at least in UK. It's possible of course to use a light aircraft in UK which doesn't meet these criterea for transport, but not with any serious degree of reliability and safety.
A cub out of a farmer's field. A Pitts or a Stampe for some aeros. A Chippy for the pure joy of flight (and some gentle aeros!). There's a lifetime of flying fun to be had there, and not an ILS or hired-plane-round-the-local-area in sight!