I don't think we are disagreeing just to disagree. Why should you have a different mindset in how you ride if you are rec riding or commuting? In both instances, you are sharing the road with cars doing whatever it is the drivers are doing (or not doing). Sure, the purpose of the ride is slightly different (bc can you really say you aren't having fun in both instances?) - but as a cyclist in both instances, you should still have the same mindset with a preference to following laws and rider safety. Just bc you are rec riding, are you gong to start running red lights or be a jackass on the road? I didn't think so. Maybe it's different for you because you "avoid roads like the plague" - but for all of us who don't mind riding on the roads for fun as well, it's the same game, different ballpark. The only thing I do differently is not to bother chasing Strava segments while commuting, bc I know that's never gonna happen on my commuter, especially when I have done the same route numerous times on my carbon road bike carrying nothing.