I feel like less of a loser for just using the bar on the one I have at home.

Nooooo, just using the bar can be exactly the right thing to do until you've got your form down and are ready to add some more weight. I have a decent deadlift now, but I use just the bar for good mornings, and I'm still at the broomstick stage for overhead squats!

So, not a loser at all. Very sensible.