Hi Anon,
Thanks for sharing your traumatic memory. You poor thing! :)
Please do, give poached eggs another go.
There are some things that I considered heinous since childhood too, but now as an adult, I'm warming up to the taste of these items. (Peanut butter comes to mind...)
I too never really appreciated poached eggs until I learned how to make them during my university days (thanks Julia Child!)

Loved your story,
L.