Death is quite the severe consequence. It is good you avoided it and I should hope that your arrival on Knowhere has not complicated life too much for you.
I do. It has earned me a reputation that...I could stand to do without, however I have worked to change that impression of myself now that my life is my own to lead again.
We become what we must to survive and, from the sounds of it, your world is no exception to that rule. If your teachers cannot appreciate how you have adapated their lessons, that is no fault of your own but of a very bad teacher.