It is very conventional thinking to say that the best things are things you work for, like kids presumably it was having made the money myself that made the experience so special. Or all the creative stuff I have made, like bamboo fenders (as a tiny example), it sure felt good know it was all about the money or the back breaking work.

Overall Marx won, because one of his insights was to see that people would be defined by their work status, not some other thing like character or breeding, etc... (nobody is saying all the other stuff was good). It has come to the point where even the most privileged, like the monarchy are largely defined by beavering away at charitable roles, and paying their fair share of taxes.

In a materialist society, you can be sure someone will put a price tag on everything.