[grimjack00]

> I still have no first clue what they're finding interesting about all this.

Did you ask them? I'm primarily a casual contester and POTA hunter. Most non-amateurs (and quite a few amateurs) find that boring.

> CW sounds cool, but I don't have a peer group it would impress, so: boring.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but does an activity have to impress a peer (or any) group to not be boring? Amateur radio as a whole is unimpressive to many (most?) people, but why should that stop you?