Some people like it, some people don't, and there's no issue with that. I second the other comment about how it is like solving mysteries, with a combination of trying to get to know people that you've never met and can never meet.

> I know one or two anecdotes about my grandparents' parents

One thing you can find is that those anecdotes aren't correct. We have some family lore around my grandfather and something he did in the service. However, in reviewing military records for his unit and his own diary after he passed away, it's likely (in my opinion) that he was exaggerating quite a bit, if not outright fabricating things. Humans are funny creatures :)