It might be the case that you could find penetration/insertion comfortable in the future given the right circumstances, but it's entirely possible that it just isn't going to be something you like. Either way, it sounds like it isn't something that appeals to you right now, and that's totally fine. As you say, people have different sexual preferences, and it's just as normal to be really excited about penetration as it is to be indifferent to it, or to outright hate it.
I'm glad you're trying to push past the idea that intercourse = "real" sex! I think that's a line of thinking that winds causing a lot of frustration and disappointment for people. Sex encompasses a wide range of activities, and it's normal to not be excited about all of the possibilities; in fact, it's probably more common for someone to enjoy some-but-not-all kinds of sex than it is for them to enjoy everything!
If you are interested, in the future, in exploring insertive activities, you could take a look at this article about painful intercourse for some ideas on how to help it be more comfortable:
From OW! to WOW! Demystifying Painful Intercourse Starting out small, like with a finger or two that you've put a latex glove and plenty of lube on, may be a good idea as well. It's important not to push yourself, though; it's unlikely to feel good at all if you ever feel like you're forcing things. If you find that intercourse, or any other sort of sex that involves inserting something in your vagina, just isn't fun for you, that's totally fine.