Warning: I quit using generic grease on bearings and the difference is night and day

Alright, so here's my story. I always used whatever grease was handy for my bike's bearings, like the cheap stuff from the hardware store. Recently, my headset started making this awful creaking noise, and when I took it apart, the bearings were totally shot. I switched to a high quality waterproof grease, and man, the difference is unreal. Everything spins so smoothly now, and no more weird sounds. It's made me stop being lazy about using the right products. I've even started keeping a dedicated tube of bike specific grease in my toolbox. Has anyone else had a similar wake up call with lubricants?