Salute for you my friend!
I started with 3 friends, and I took the pilot role, so (in a rather uncommon way I guess) I also got introduced to GOIO the hard way, piloting from day one. Now our crew is starting to come together and we're winning matches. What a feeling! Certain ships scare the hell out of me (I'm not getting anywhere near a squid again until I am at least rank eight) but when I started to get the hang of handling the goldfish... It felt amazing. I know how you feel!
Being a pilot is pure adrenaline, and I love it. I will try to play PUGs too to get used to the other roles, but in the end I know this is my vocation.