It seems that some people develop a taste for things in their youth, while others develop a distaste for things. Maybe you and I are more the latter. The only church I ever had been in as a child (for services) was a Presbyterian church. I think it really turned me off on the notion that endless talking can be the height of prayer. And I thought the little plastic shot glasses of grape juice at the yearly "communion" were silly. Maybe this helped me be more receptive to the different ways that worship seem to manifest in Orthodoxy, and helped me respect the seriousness with which the Orthodox conduct themselves in worship. Seems like you had a similar experience, only in the opposite direction.
My experience was just seeing people go thru motions.