We did. They stink and they bite!
RIMMER: ...I had a pet lemming once. I loved that little lemming. I built him a little wall so he could hurl himself over it. He didn’t want for anything. I’ll never forget one Christmas I put my finger in his cage to give him some mince pie. He bit me! He sunk his teeth right into my fingers and wouldn’t let go. In the end I had to smash his brains out against the wall. That little lemming broke my heart. The little git completely ruined my helicopter wallpaper.
Our gerbils stunk much less than the hamsters.
And they are only really friendly if hand raised from birth.
I raised them as a kid and anyone who got a couple had great pets.
That being said, the new hybrids are biters and the hamsters we had were the most darling little rodents ever. They are now on to their rewards but there is nothing better than hand feeding Lucky Charms to a happy hamster.