Yes, I am a 'benevolent neglecter'. What the children wanted to do they did. These included learning musical instruments, dancing and, for a while judo. When DD, having asked to learn the piano got bored with practice, the lessons stopped.
There has been a book published recently called The Gardener and the Carpenter (or it may be the other way round). I haven't read it, but I have heard and read interviews with the author as well as reviews. She pointsd out the folly of trying to make a child into something (The Carpenter), instead she recommends cultivating a child's environment, giving them every opportunity to thrive in every way so that you grow large healthy and robust plants.
I think it is a wonderful analogy and one I totally agree with.