I would suggest giving the people who have relapsed at any point a wide berth unless that is what you want for yourself in the future, my sponsor got sober 24 years ago after walking into AA the first time...kind of like if i wanted to set up my own business i would value the advice of someone who had set one up and ran it successfully for 24 years rather than some tit who ran one for 10 years went bust then started another one second time lucky...its all about what you want i guess?!
Of course this is assuming that the people you are talking to have worked ALL the steps to the best of their ability otherwise you might as well be listening to the people you used to drink with at the bar...