i started tkd last year and enjoy it alot especially the elaborate kicking techniques(the patterns less so), but the main reason i started was to increase my chances in "real life" confrontations; although as pointed on this site i doesn't seem like the best art to have choosen for this in mind. (although at my first grading the master at the grading asked us why we choose tkd, after we answered he said the reason he started 33 years ago was "to learn to fight")

am i best to drop it, and started something else?

or is there another (popular, otherwise i'll never find a school) art/sport that would complement it well

i would hate to put all the effort in, get to black belt (maybe) and find my time could have been better spent elsewhere.

Many other arts will compliment your TKD.

Boxing, Muay Thai, American kenpo or Wing Chun will all add lots of hand strike training.

Wrestling, Brazilian jujutsu or judo/sambo will add grappling training.

This is just a short list. The best thing for you to do is check out other schools in your area, and find something you like.