Mixed blessing indeed. As a young programmer, many times I complained about being asked to put warts in my perfect architecture, until I realized I'm not being paid to make museum pieces, I'm being paid to solve business problems.

I don't program anymore, but I learned you still can enjoy the beauty of your Mount Fuji when the business needs a pizza stand in the middle of the trail.

Seeing the core of my Mount Fuji stable and supporting more stands around for years is a satisfaction itself.

I personally feel like the second any art becomes a "job", it ceases its magic for them.

I don't think that artists would feel the same way about their art if they were put in corporate cubicasl with little agency to build art that "sells" because it increases the bottom line.

I think this is why in the video game industry many people burn out. They join for the passion and leave soulless.