I agree with you about magic money. Frequently downvoted when I put it forward but by and large I think that the human psyche needs to have a daily sense of having "accomplished something".
Otherwise I suspect many of us will (reluctantly) drift off into lives that center around drinking alcohol, playing video games…
I have a decent job, get paid an acceptable amount, and at the end of the day I never get the feeling that I've "accomplished something".
I'm extremely jealous of anyone who feels a sense of reward from their job.