IMHO, that is like saying I wish I became a painter before becoming an art lover (from a consumer POV). I think you're being too hard on yourself here.
As a gamer (who also went on to develop games), I think I may be one of the few such people that doesn't fly off the handle in a dismissive rage upon coming across a 'games are bad' article or sentiment. I've no doubt that, for example, thousands of rounds of running around Counterstrike maps shooting people was a net negative for intellect and general mental health.