Maybe it's a bit like professional software development where developers no longer get to create products, they just are code monkeys that complete tickets that

Maybe it's a bit like professional software development where developers no longer get to create products, they just are code monkeys that complete tickets that are specified to the Nth degree and there's no creativity or fun and indeed if you do anything except what's on the ticket then you'll have to answer for it. If you are a developer who loves the art and craft of creation then you have to do that at home. Work is just being a cog in an agile machine.