You will have missed some good things then.
There might be a lot of crap out there but there are still some gems to be had. I won't say what because everyone's taste is different.
I don't mind paying my £145.50 licence fee because that works out at 40p a day and even the time-filling dross is worth that. I consider a laugh a week worth the £3 it costs and I can usually find more than one. I would be surprised if anyone could not find one show (Dr Who, Top Gear, Strictly, Eastenders, HIGNFY, etc) which made a good part of the licence worth paying. I have been particularly taken by Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell despite my hate of period dramas.
I also make my own entertainment but I also like to be entertained and don't begrudge the BBC the cost of catering for that.