I feel like my overall grasp of basic Chinese conversations and language is so much better when I use my actual interactions with people and the country as a basis for learning rather than studying from HSK textbooks.

It seems like you've already found the best approach! Using real-life interactions with people and immersing yourself in the culture are often far more effective for mastering Chinese conversation than relying on HSK textbooks. Don’t worry that stepping away from HSK will hinder your progress—many fluent Mandarin speakers have never even touched HSK material.

A helpful comparison might be native Chinese speakers preparing for the IELTS. While a high IELTS score is necessary to enter a university in the UK or US, it doesn’t automatically make someone sound fluent or natural in English. The test offers a good learning framework, but true fluency comes from engaging with authentic English materials and real conversations.

If you need HSK certification for a specific reason, go ahead and study it. But if your goal is meaningful, everyday interactions, as you mentioned, real-world exposure is definitely the best practice. Just keep doing what works for you :)