HCR:

I got bored of chucking huge flies with heavy rigs years ago and as a result now do most of my fly fishing for trout. I also fly fish for smallmouth bass some of the time and I do like fishin' for sunnies with a light fly rod.

But almost 100% of the rest of my fishing is done with baitcasting & spinning tackle and I like baitcasting 1000 times more than flyfishing for largemouth bass.

I fish the way I do because of the enjoyment the act of FISHING brings me not because of any convoluted sense of what's more sporting or any of that BS. Like you, fishing with dry flies or small nymphs at moderate distances with a light rod makes me happy. The same goes for flippin' a Senko under a boat dock with my baitcasting rig; it just feels right to me.

But if throwing 3/4 oz flies with a 12 weight makes you happy go for it! I just don't enjoy it.