> Sounds still better than half-assing a lot of pieces and then deciding that that's not it, let's try another one.

I dunno. It sounds like you got further, kept doing it for long and kept liking it.

I ditched it first time I could and never looked back. I was against my kids playing music instrument unless they would really really insist on it, because I felt like it is unpleasant activity I don't want to burden them with.