Yes. How many ways do you have to reliably monetize a portion of that $100 that goes to the utility company, though? At its core, proof of work (not Bitcoin's anymore because of ASICs), allows that.
I dont need to monetize it, I can keep the $100 and not buy the energy. And it's not "reliable" if I get rug pulled (extemely common) or someone else has a more effcient mining setup (extremely common).
Maybe if I'm stuck on inefficient resistive heatong in winter, mining makes sense.
Maybe if I'm stuck on inefficient resistive heatong in winter, mining makes sense.