My interest in radios started out with scanners. I'm an ex-EMT, and have always liked listening to public safety transmissions. Around here I noticed when my local agency went to digital and all I had to listen to was the ham channels, there really wasn't much on... Yes, I do talk on the ham frequencies occasonally and there are a few people who talk some, but by in large things are pretty dead on the UHF bands. Maybe most hams are on HF, Am looking at eventually becoming a General Class someday and looking at HF,maybe then it will be more interesting. I don't know.... Anyway, since I figured out how to program the digital radio again and pick up the local police, fire and EMS, it's a LOT more interesting. I really originally just became a ham because in some states if you get caught with a scanner, you are less likely to be harrassed by the cops if you have a license. Around here, I don't know there are NO scanner laws on the books so I suppose it really doesn't matter. I take the chance of taking the scanner in the car with me sometimes but at least I have the defense of "I'm a ham and I have the right to carry a scanner with me".
I used to just carry the little ham radio with me when everything was still analog and I could pick up police and fire fine with it, no longer an option. I just try not to get caught with it and not look suspicious to the cops. I enjoy being a ham, I belong to the local club and am a member the district ARES group but am devoted mostly to my scanners still and probably always will be.