This is a problem most commonly seen in junior developers. It leads to them making poor decisions that are not aligned with business goals.
> I'm glad I program because I enjoy it
Spend enough time working in the industry and that will go away.
For your mental health's sake, I hope you find a hobby that is unrelated to your job. What you are describing is a very common path to burnout. Been there, seen many classmates go through it as well.
An important reason things have worked out as they have is because I continue to enjoy coding and I don't allow what I work on to be controlled by "business goals".
While your somewhat cynical take may reflect the experience of an overwhelming majority of the people who write software today, it isn't a description of the only pathway along a life as a programmer.
Those who are good at it and love it don't simply retire. They just decrease their hours and continue their craft for as long as they have the health and energy. It probably leads to more healthy years to have something like this.
> I don't mind whether what I'm coding is useful or ends up generating money
you can have it both ways; i'm happy that I enjoy it _and_ i'm happy it's useful to others :)
>As frustrating as coding can be, I am still in love with it. I love to see my code work, I love it when people can use it, play with it. I love building things, solving problems. I love making progress through difficult challenges.
The "idea guy" part of the story was from the writer's past.
At the same time, it saddens me that the thing I love so much becomes a source of frustration for many others.