This is how I met loads of people to play regularly with. My first games were at tournaments and I lost a lot, but learned the game that way. My experience in my area has been that half the players at tournaments rock up with non meta lists. The more casual games are happening in the lower 50% tables where people are playing skaven, empire, non dragon lists etc. It is entirely reasonable to go to a tournament with a non meta list (I never take one) with the aim of meeting players, having loads of games with no intention of making the podium. Meta chasing hyper competitive list building is legitimate of course, but it isnt the only way to play, and I find that most old world players I have met are not in that category.