[hxegon]

I completely agree that you shouldn't have to do it for fun, but I'd say A) it's still possible to balance 'code as a hobby' and the other parts of your life and B) I think OP's comment is more about having a much larger skill gap because you're spending more time practicing and exploring things outside your typical work things. It really sets you apart from your peers and helps you be more valuable to your peers. This is how I got my current job, exploring interesting ideas while working my previous one.