I did too; for instance, I learned how to terminate DS1s and PRIs by trial-and-error punching down every possible combination of little colored wires, and to this day remember that it's ESF/B8ZS and not AMI because that setting change, at 10:30PM on a Friday night, was when I got the Livingston box to light up properly.

Fun? Yes. Miss it? Fuck no. Recommend people relive the 2012 version of the experience? Huh? Get back to work writing code. Re-read the Wikipedia page on "comparative advantage" first if you need to motivate yourself.