When I started playing (2011-ish), I suppose I was the counterparty to your playstyle. But that was the appeal: Being in actual danger and at risk for loss. Even stuff like moving an industrial with goods from highsec to npc null to sell at a markup was an exhilerating adventure. And if there is risk, sometimes you lose.

I don't know how many people felt like I did, versus how many ragequit the game.

After some years I became a wormholer though, and finally a permanent -10 lowsec pirate in the end. It's been a decade since I quit now.

Learned a lot from that game.

I was also a wormholer for most of my time, at the end I was hi-sec mercenary.

My greatest lesson from EVE is that most people are really really dumb.

The same people also vote and drive, it's a miracle we still exist.