Do you consider the recorder a proper musical instrunment?

I was just wandering because when I tell people I play the recorder it
is common for them to say something like "why don't you play a real
instrument" or "that's easy, anyone can do that".

Needles to say I do consider it a real instrument and don't consider
it to be extremely easy. As well as playing the recorder I also play
the flute, and except for the initial stage of being able to produce
the note the flute is not that much more difficult. I prefer the
recorder by the way.