I am 52. First shotgun was Sears bolt action 16 bought used with paper route money when I was 14. First double was $20 Stevens pre-311 12 that patterned in opposite corners of a pattern board. It kicked like heck and got traded off quickly. It soured me on SxS for 30 years.
I was in my 40s when Tom Bryant, now at Cabelas, conned me into buying a Greener D13 lightweight 12 BLNE. I was intrigued, but it was my 1st Vintage Cup in 2001, that really sank the hook.
I now enjoy the odd variations of gauge, actions and embellishment.

Joe