Riders who purchased 'exotic' or seemingly 'run down' bikes as their first, did you regret it?

I'm a learner rider who ventured into the vast motorcycle forums of the deep Web to find information on this new hobby of mine.I had no experience with motorcycles or mechanics and relied on others to give me some insight into this huge world. Aside from' golden rukes' such as buy used, don't buy Harley's and go ATGATT, the next rule I hear most often is to buy Japanese.I don't doubt the reliability of Japanese bikes but I believe motorcycling is more than just specs and numbers on a sheet; the feeling it gives you is very important.I personally love the new RE Continental GT 650 despite its bad reputation. I recently made a friend on a local forum who is rebuilding his first bike (something he bought from the 80s for like 1000 bucks, I believe) with the help of his father. I met a fellow rider near my work who rides a 10 year old postie bike which he bought of ebay. I love ItchyBoots and Basanti (rip)Who else started on an exotic or 'crap' bike and do you regret it? via /r/motorcycles https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/dclzap/riders_who_purchased_exotic_or_seemingly_run_down/?utm_source=ifttt