People said the same thing for those who invented email, the World Wide Web, tcp/ip, and other technologies.
Nobody saw the value in it at the time of doing it. That’s the thing about having true creative vision, to also have the conviction to do those things that nobody else sees the value of doing.
I mean, why does anyone have any hobbies? Why do people build model layouts, or models at all? Why read/write for fun? Why keep small gardens? Why do photograhy? Why do people still run their own dark rooms? Why do people write software in their spare time? Why do people cook?
This strain of thinking that every spare minute must be accounted for and be in the service of improving one’s circumstances is something all too common in tech.
It's also a very narrow idea of what someone's "circumstances" are. Physical and mental well-being are part of your circumstances as well, and hobbies often cater to one or both of those.
Nobody saw the value in it at the time of doing it. That’s the thing about having true creative vision, to also have the conviction to do those things that nobody else sees the value of doing.