Jay Honeck wrote:

Right. But these "near-pilots" DID love aviation like we do -- and
something spooked them to the point where they walked away.

Not necessairily. I've looked into many things, and after a while said:
ok, it was interesting, it was fun, but now that's it, let's go for
something new. Right now I'm hooked to soaring and really like it, but
who knows how I'll feel in 10 years?

Stefan