It depends on the game.

Typically I prefer normal, but there are some games where inverted camera just makes it easier, like games with full 3D exploration (flying/swimming). I do sometimes only invert the vertical for these, so I’m that maniac.

If you are an older gamer, you’re probably right that you picked it up in the early camera control games (ps1/2 for me), because changing camera function wasn’t an option and a -lot- of games inverted by default back then. I believe the logic was to treat your view camera like a real video camera, where you push the back to the left to point the camera lens to the right, but most people don’t have that type of experience so it’s less intuitive, which is why it’s less common now. I blame mostly Spyro flying challenges for my limited inversion use.

And like you, I struggle with games that don’t allow me to pick, which is most of the older games, even remastered 😭 it’s so hard to re-learn.

You're the first person on earth I've ever heard of to invert the X axis, I can't even think of a game that let's you do that.

I'm pretty boring, I like my sticks neat unless I'm flying an aircraft, then I need vertical invert.

Now tank control schemes I could argue about for a while, what numbskull wants to drive in the exact direction they're firing?

Inverted Y, I played a lot of flight sims like Wing Commander and Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe in my youth. I can't play with normal Y, it constantly messes me up.

Normal feels like I am controlling the vision frustum (where I want to look at), and inverted feels like I am moving the camera itself, as if it was a physical object. I can play both but I definitely have to remind myself what I am trying to control when making the switch.

I vastly prefer non-inverted, because I like the idea of just pointing where I want to look at. I hope it makes sense. All of this apply mostly for games with orbit camera.

I prefer inverted too. It feels more natural to me. Just like a bike, I can't do the opposite with much success.

For me, one of the worst experiences is realizing a game I really want to play only supports uninverted

FYI, the steam deck allows you to customize all that shit even if the game doesn't support what you want.

Inverted y for anything first person. I grew up with a joystick for flight sims, and that felt natural to me when I later played FPS games on controller.

Inverted x makes no sense to me (and yes, I read your explanation below), but I can ignore that setting just fine, so every game should have it.

I prefer uninverted purely because that is what I grew up with. On the og xbox there weren't many options to change controls, so you had to put up with what the game gave you. I can play with inverted controls, but it feels like writing with my left hand.

If it's 3rd person, fully inverted. If it's first person, or I have to aim, uninverted.

I used to play inverted Y with a controller because it seemed natural after playing flying games. However, I reconditioned myself to play non-inverted after a decade of playing inverted. Being able to pick up a game and play with default settings is worth the pain in switching.

I only play inverted x and y, but I'm thinking of learning to play both non inverted since it seems to be supported universally, so I wouldn't need to worry about it.

That said, I never understood why every modern game wouldn't support both being configurable.

Non inverted, keyboard and mouse.
The only games I play inverted are flight games on a controller where I invert Y, only because I'm too cheap to buy a flight stick setup and whenever I go doyen that rabbit hole I start overthinking it and not buying anything.

If it's a first-person view then I just want to point the stick in the direction I want to look. If its a third-person view then I'm moving the camera so you need inversion.

With a controller I need invertY or I can't do anything right.

No invert with a mouse though, unless I'm playing a flying game.

Standard unless there's and flying involved, either in atmosphere or space, then I invert Y. Can't imagine ever inverting X, that just blows my kind. Been playing since before WASD was a thing, so I've seen most implementations I guess.

I only use inverted controls in a flight sim when I am using a joystick.