I NEVER regarded a light aircraft and a PPL as suitable for a means of transport in the UK. I never wanted to fly myself in IMC, nor fly at night.
The sheer inconvenience of not having my car available at a destination field put severe dampers on XC. My Qualifying Cross Country flight was, for a long time the longest flight that I had made.
I did fly taildraggers, finding spamcans intensely boring.
I acquired a share in an aerobatic Pilatus B-4 glider, and my hours increased dramatically every summer, to overtake my power hours.
I think the best flying fun I had was as a Civilian Gliding Instructor with an ATC VGS. It was structured, different tasks (I enjoyed winch driving), and we were flying Sedburghs and Cadet Mk3s with open cockpits...and in an excellent social context. Happy days.
I can understand why new(ish) PPLs lose interest.