YES desertranger the 270 WAS, IS, & WILL be a good hunting round. Like you I haven’t used it exclusively but I’d say I’ve killed the majority of my deer with a 270.
NO shame or embarrassment felt. ATST being 69 yo I don’t have that many years of hunting ahead of me. I’m actually leaning more to my Tikka T3X in 7mm RM.
Less is NOT more to me. I have a Swede but not hunting it. I have a 6mm Rem that I like better.
I post this after only reading your OP first and no others. I like what I like and my Butt Don’t Hurt if NoOne else does. I don’t WHINE and CRY waaa when someone disagrees with me.
and CRY 
waaa when someone disagrees with me. 
