[bluejeansummer]

As someone who plays Pyro a lot, there are two things to realize: playing (good) Pyro is hard, and pick your fights. Being a melee class, you have to know which battles you can win, and which you can't. So the "hope he's an idiot" approach may work, just judge your opponents before committing to the fight. Know how and when to use your airblast, secondary, and melee.

Yes, it can be rather annoying to play, but in the long run, it gets better. In organized matches, the Pyro is a rather critical part of the team. Both the Engineer and the Medic depend on him/her for their protection. If you get any satisfaction from helping your team, that makes it worth it.