Am I Deficient? or Why can't I follow directions?

I'm one of those knitters. You know, who reads a pattern and then immediately changes something. Usually something simple like gauge or yarn or needle size starts it off. Sometimes, I go crazy and rewrite patterns for a completely different make up order or converting it from flat knitting to in-the-round. I wasn't always so willy-nilly with my knitting and it left me feeling stagnant, with no desire to pick up the needles. I have found that my off the cuff changes have made me a more proficient knitter. Which leads me to my dilemma.

I started the Baby Bolero from One Skein and liked everything about it. Thats right, I didn't want to change a thing (except, maybe to use a three needle bind off for the shoulder seams.) I'd resolved to knit the thing as written because I am knitting on a deadline and don't have the time to fiddle around with changes. I even knit the dreaded gauge swatch (and washed and blocked it) as well as bought an extra insurance skein ($13 extra, I might add). Nope, wasn't going to change a thing. Follow the pattern to the letter. The result? I'm sure you've guessed it by now.... I've had to re-knit the body twice, simply because I cannot follow directions.

Conclusion? Changing things make me think about my knitting and make fewer mistakes, thus more FO's for less knitting. Not a bad compromise, considering how many WIP's in my basket are there because somebody wants the end product...