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Vous avez l'air d'être l'un d'eux, comme je l'ai été moi-même, autrefois.
Vous avez l'air d'être l'un d'eux, comme je l'étais moi-même, autrefois.
The phrase "I used to be one of them myself" indicates that this particular state continued for an unknown period of time, rather than being a one-time event.
So I assumed that the use of Imparfait "je l'étais" might make more sense here, but it looks like "je l'ai été" is the correct form to use. I wonder why.
Both sentences are correct, the choice of the tense expresses a different aspect of the action.
Vous avez l'air d'être l'un d'eux, comme je l'ai été moi-même, autrefois.
Passé composé: focuses on the action/state itself with no reference to the duration. It can mean it did not last long, but not necessarily.1
Vous avez l'air d'être l'un d'eux, comme je l'étais moi-même, autrefois.
Imparfait: focuses on the duration of the action/state and implies it lasted for quite some time. The subject of the predicate, "je", is given more importance.2
If a translation into English is any help:
1 ..., as I once was.
2 ... as I used to be.
