Sounds like you have a real legitimate reason for compiling a custom kernel.
Most of the time, however, when I see “I have no desire to recompile my system (or my kernel)” it’s typically from people that want to sound sophisticated but really aren’t. As a pretty heavy linux user I do very little compiling (most of what I need I can get binaries for) and even if I do have to compile - then so what - the machine does all the work - I just have to type a few commands. But in the main, that’s why we have distros - so most things don’t have to be compiled.
I agree. I am mostly a Distro user but I like to keep my hands dirty just so I can remember stuff!
I like to tell people if you mostly use a computer to email surf the net or watch movies go with Linux but it will also do much more sometimes you have to find the right program.