If for every thousand people that spent all their time playing video games- or doing other enjoyable activities that don't leave a lasting legacy- one person was allowed to create an invention or make a scientific discovery or write a great novel, our civilization could easily still come out ahead. I also doubt it would be nearly so binary. I believe that most people do possess self-directed creativity and productivity, in varying ways and to varying degrees.

The percentage of people who take full advantage of being freed from working to survive isn't terribly important; it's the number.