It's funny because esk and our group has seen each other all evolve. I remember when I first met esk he told me he shot 22lr because it was cheap. I smiled and walked away. 
LMK I used to shoot a lot of online matches because nobody would shoot down here. I have some challenging targets that'll humble most. I'm the type that likes to be pushed past my comfort zone. FB had a bunch that I used to shoot but since NRL22 took off in the states, there's not much anymore. Well I rarely FB now so if there was i wouldn't know about them.
Pistol skills are coming back. It was good to be humbled
Yeah, I can see the evolution aspect. When I first got into firearms, I just wanted to hit the range and stuff. Then I became friends with some folks who were into the training and competition aspect, and went full bore into that. Then came ARs and the Black Rifle Disease. Somewhat similar story about folks who were well down that path giving me advice. I listened to a lot, but some had to find out for myself. Expensive lessons in many cases. I probably got similar "smile and walk away" thoughts from those who I went to at first. Stuff like "the gun will be the cheap part of this". I learned that lesson a lonnnngggg time ago.
I have no problems posting targets. Even horrible ones. When training, I tell myself and those I train with that the target is what it is. It's done, but can always learn from it. Definitely agree with the needing to push past comfort zone, or at least to push the boundary and find it, in order to grow, improve, etc.
At one point, I shot in classes with some VERY good shooters. Instructors and students alike. Good to line up next to them and just absorb. There were many times were I saw an instructor demonstrate something, like say a cadence drill with a 21+1 magazine, where the "typical" was 5 or 6 shot cadence strings of fire. Jaw, on, ground. . .
