Especially if you put the skill/knowledge limit to feel legitimate to consider yourself passionate high

Having a strong long term interest is something close enough to be called a passion to me 😄
You don't need to be unbeatable on those for that. For ex, you don't have to know perfectly a certain number of models of trains/planes to consider yourself as a passionate, cuz I'd be neverending.

From my exterior pov, your interest into German country&stuff looks strong enough to be considered as a passion :)

Or just 3 meters tall 👀

Who's Elon? It reminds me vaguely something