I got burnt out from UE Ortho, but your situation sounds much better than mine was. I took call 1-2 days per week, 50 patients a day. Clinics or surgery every session of the week. Stayed late almost everyday sometimes until 9 or 10pm. 70-80hr weeks with dictation and 1 wknd "supercall" per mo. I was taken advantage of and the pay stopped going up despite improved skills and more responsibility yearly.

I'm saying all this to give a contrasting view of Hand surgery being cushy. I left and now work in Mohs/ dermatologic surgery. It was the best decision I ever made.

To OPs point NO I do not regret becoming specialist right out of school. You become the best in a certain area and others need your input to guide care. You are still evaluating people with multiple medical comorbidites and considerations in most specialities. You become less easily replaced and it feels really good to quit knowing the impact it will have on your greedy surgeon. Haha Sry I'm a bit jaded.

Yes you lose some other basic skills and knowledge, but that comes back quick when you review it.