Getting the PPL was a wonderful experience who gave me the freedom to fly as the captain of an aircraft but I agree with comments above in the sense that I loved all the hours spent learning how to do it and having someone to care for the progress.
To push it slightly further, I would say that I still enjoy getting up with an instructor now and then to learn new things: that can be a night rating, an IMC rating, aerobatics or a cross-channel check out, but definitely learning is a significant part of the fun.
Steph