I did the same exact thing... used eyeshadow on my upper lid and then lined the bottom with the same eyeshadow... did that before I started using eyeliner regularly. When I was in high school and even the first year of college, I only wore eyeliner for special occassions. I used liquid, but then tried the soft pencil and it just works better for me.

I am the opposite in moving from liquid-pencil.

I used pencil pretty much exclusively for a long time and then moved to liquid- it should be noted that I am not a regular make-up wearer, and thus my use of liner is for occasions when I'm going out, not for an every-day basis.

Yeah, I changed because I couldn't really control the way I was putting it on as well as the pencil, that and I'd put it too close to my eye sometimes so it would sting my eyes.