As somebody that has done years of commuting and now a year of bike at non-rush-hour times, there is a difference. Maybe "commuter mindset" isn't correct, maybe it's "rush hour" mindset? Traffic conditions and driver behavior is very different during rush hour. Additionally, commuting is really about A-to-B riding, and other types of road riding tend to be "route" riding. I pick routes that are fun, my old commute route was stressful. For example, the last 2-3 miles to my office was on a 40 mph, 4-lane road with no shoulder, ALWAYS hateful, and I haven't been on that road once since moved to my home office.