It really was a fun time. I remember sitting in a coffee shop just sniffing WiFi traffic.
A friend was a reporter for the local paper and interviewed the mayor. I turned my laptop around and showed my friend the mayors imap password. Just right there floating through the air.
I had to do the same at a friend's house once because he forgot his email password that was still saved in the browser!
And what about "borrowing" internet access by using a WiFi connection that used WEP? Learning the process and getting the first password was so satisfying...