I don't know what draws me to it, but Illustrator has got me hooked more than Photoshop ever did. I have a feeling it has something to do with my admitted lack of skill with freehand drawing, and possibly my lack of a tablet...but I've never had as much fun in Photoshop as I have modifying anchors and beziers. Maybe it's the fact that all I ever did in Photoshop was photomanipulation and it's much more of (at least the feeling of) original art than photomanipulation ever was.

Also, if the pen tool intimidates you, I suggest you never even try messing with gradient meshes. Even I'm afraid of them...