On the original point, I must admit I get this type of thing quite often too, especially at work (I work at an investment / trading bank).
The usual line is:
"Oh, I had hair as long as yours back when..blah, blah..". I've even had folks bringing in old pictures of themselves as teenagers when their hair is just about touching their shoulders and saying "See? I told you!"...
You do get suprised once in a while though. There is a guy who works in the same office who looks like Bill Gates. He asked if I was into "rock" one lunch time, and it turns out he's a serious death metal freak. Into Brodequin, Deranged, Decaptated, etc. I would have had no idea. He's pushing 40 with a wife and kids and never really got into the whole scene / image thing. Never even goes to shows. He just heard Carcass on John Peel's show many years ago and has quietly kept up with things ever since. I think I'm the first person he's even had a half-decent conversation about it with.