If you're programming for the art, you can continue. Someone who enjoys painting can do so even after the camera

As you probably know, painting changed quite a bit after cameras became common. I wonder if handcrafted code will have a similar shift, becoming more "artistic" :)

It surely will.

But you have to admit it loses a certain shine in the cases where you know that what you're doing is no longer solving a problem that could be solved simpler and cheaper another way.

But understanding _how_ it solves the problem, and knowing you found the solution yourself might/will be something to strive for.