Yes, it’s quite perceptive.
I think the biggest mistake nerds make is not going out for sports. It is one of the few kid-approved activities which are purposeful and recognize ability and hard work. The nerdy kids may never become the most-popular jocks, but they can get healthy exercise and a measure of respect from going out.
My daughter is the uber-nerd - valedicatorian of her class - but is also a band geek, a jock, a musician, a theater kid, and a volunteer. She has found it very easy to slip in and out of groups. And yes, she did all the extra things because she didn’t want to be defined by her ‘nerd-ish-ness’ but by her whole self.
It's more a matter of back then, our sports didn't exist. Nobody hiked back then, and there was no skiing in Los Angeles.