I've wondered the same, with the same lead into the industry. I don't think it's possible to extract the two from one-another. I've nerded-out on the majority

I've wondered the same, with the same lead into the industry. I don't think it's possible to extract the two from one-another. I've nerded-out on the majority of the projects I've worked on through my career - especially in the latter years. But there are quite a few projects in the past that would not have come to completion without a big fat carrot to keep my belly full and my favorite bartenders' rent paid. Some weeks - no matter how interesting the problem is - I couldn't possibly care. The money remains a great fallback motivator; And unfortunately, often can end up being a shackle to a project that's well past its sell-by date.