Given that context, I view Star Trek as a reasonably plausible view of future humanity. The Star Trek universe certainly has problems, and is regularly threatened with existential crises. There are many new terrible things in it, but there are also many new beautiful things. It's sort of a greatly expanded version of life as it is today; the inhabited universe is larger, more diverse, and as a direct result, there are, on the whole, more options and more possibilities.
So here's the question: Given the option, would you choose to live in today's universe, or the Star Trek universe?
You don't get to choose which individual you are in either scenario, it's a dice roll. You could end up a North Korean peasant or an Albert Einstein (or pick your own role model). You could end up an admired Federation leader or a Borg drone.
But, if you could choose the present day or the Star Trek universe, which would it be?
The problem is that you are, over time, shown powerful tools and processes capable of perceptibly increasing the rate of human technological progress. For many people, pursuing this goal is irresistible, and this is when you transition to living to work -- when you know that you are personally capable of moving humanity forward.