Couldn't agree more.
Riding a motorcycle isn't just about going fast and dragging knee. For me at least, riding a motorcycle is about getting out into the world without being cooped up in a metal and glass cage. It's about combining the basic fun of riding with the sense of discovery and exploration of going new (and often distant) places.
Maybe that's why I keep drifting further toward dual-sport bikes and don't even own a sportbike.
This picture kind of says it all:
http://www.swyve.org/stuff/tl/200909...slab05_web.jpg
If you've never tried motorcycle touring... you should.
--mark