I also found other trail users far friendlier towards me when on a cross bike?
Me too, and roadies seem to be friendlier too.
I use mine to ride from my doorstep in the outskirts of London to some nice off-road in Surrey Hills, Swinley and surrounds, or The Chilterns.
The first 2 take about 1/2 an hour to drive to, or about an hour to ride to on the CX. So, it’s an efficient use of time not be sat in the car. And for the kind of trails you get in those places, a cross bike is really fun to ride. Nowhere near as fast as my mtb, but still fun.
Then in the summer, I use it as a road bike.
I’ve never raced my CX bike, and don’t have any immediate plans to do so.