Agreed. I think it's so amazing we actually make up work for ourselves.
You can have a space filled with vegetables, fruits, shrubs etc.
I don't water my grass, and it isn't as pretty as some people's yards; but it is perfectly fine for playing in; and looks decent enough.
The whole "sprinkler systems are bad" argument doesn't hold much water in suburban NY.
Isn't that the entire point of my post? That different people value things differently? You may see it as "little return", but other people may not.
There are environmental issues with lawns in some locations. I don't suggest having a lawn in the desert. There are a ton of areas throughout the US where having a lawn is just fine, and is environmentally neutral.