dverna, I too share your admiration for the 38 Special.
Of the cartridges that I reload, I have probably loaded and shot more 38 Special cartridges than all the others put together.
It is a wonderfully useful cartridge. Inexpensive, accurate, reasonably powerful, incredibly useful and just downright FUN!
For as long as I can remember, there has always been at least one DA revolver chambered in 38 Special in my possession. There are a few more than one now
The spent brass ends up on the ground near my feet, I don't have to search dozens of square yards worth of ground to find my casings. Those casings last for many reloading cycles. And while I have burned a lot of powder over the years, I don't burn a lot of powder per cartridge.
I have more than one dedicated Dillon 550 toolhead set up for 38 Special (so I don't need to readjust dies and powder measures for different loadings).
My EDC is a revolver chambered in 38 Special. I own more Safariland speedloaders than pistol magazines !
I load and shoot other cartridges but the 38 Special really is Special.