By taking this tack, even a licenced Amateur would not be able to get a
"real feel" as it is just about 100% certain that they will have different
interests and priorities than you.

As well it should be ... the hobby-service-what ever has a wealth of
deversity to offer but in the context of amateur radio. Any thing else for
the non-professional radio affecionado unless he has a ticket would by
defination not be amateur radio. Am I "dissing" those who don't have the
exalted ticket? Nope .. I knew a fellow who could copy 45 WPM and never had
a ticket but loved to listen to high speed CW on the ham bands. He said he
would rather be a SWLer ..and this guy never was a military or commercial
op.

I take a less metaphysical approach to "real feel". I mean it is
relatively
easy to determine what Amateurs do

Not really ...not that is is such a big deal but I find you are falling into
the trap that a lot of our "expert" hams out there fall into ....that is one
of projection of one's knowledge to another. I really read with a chuckle
those who say the test is too easy .. a give away. Again prospective. The
guy or gal who is just starting out with no basis is overwhelmed and needs
support with the simple things. I see this time and time again with our
club's yearly no-code classes.


and there are plenty of related things
(CB & marine radio, electronics kits, regulations, chat rooms, phones,
etc)
so that a person could reasonably be expected to be about to judge whether
this would be interesting - before they went to the effort of getting a
licence.

But they have choosen the unique experience of amateur radio.



As it should be, but that does not prevent unlicenced people from knowing
what the hobby is about. Whether they would enjoy those activities is a
matter of personality, not of holding a licence.

Maybe knowing "about" but really knowing with some sort of "real feeling"
......doubtful . Mater of personality ... boy have I known some personalitie
s in "hamdom" ... I can't say that there is a dominate personality ham type.

Take care Mark ...73 Tom Popovic KI3R