The counter-examples are so obvious it makes me feel that pointing them out wouldn’t actually help you understand reality

The counter-examples are so obvious you didn't feel the need to cite even one?

Please provide an example of how logging in to fidelity.com to see that today my net worth increased by a multiple of my annual salary constitutes "work". Define your terms so it's clear to readers.

If I spend 30 minutes this week looking at my investments, but a fund manager spends 60 hours, that’s a difference in quality and quantity not kind.

Fund managers are paid to do a job by the owners of capital. Obviously that job is is work. The overwhelming majority of the gains accrue to the owners, and only a small fraction to the diligent fund manager who did the work.

Are you sure you tried to come up with a counter example?

Now you’re just question-begging.

If the only kind of “work” is “selling your labor” then sure, but I think a farmer tilling his own soil is “working”.