I have similar reasons for playing chess. I kept losing at luck games like snakes and ladders

Amen.

On request of AA I will try to explain my attitude towards chess.
For young ambitious players, the main goal is to improve their level, skilss and ELO. That is OK. They should study all aspects of the game to get a harmonious development. So did I, some 20 years ago.
But sooner or later everybody reaches a turning point - usually at the age of 25-30. No matter the efforts, progress declines and eventually stops. Everybody knows the examples of fresh GM's who fall back immediately after getting their title.
It happened to me some 13 years ago.  What was worse, when all the hard work lead to nothing anymore, I lost pleasure in chess. It happened two times, that I left a tournament after 1 or 2 rounds just because of disgust. Like Piket and Kamsky I seriously considered quitting chess.
But I asked myself the question: what makes chess attractive to me? My answer is personal, though not original: advanturous, daring, sacrificial play. I studied The art of sacrifice by my great example again. Since then I played a couple of games, which might not impress the rest of the chess world, but gave me great pleasure at the time and afterwards.
So if I do not improve anymore, be it. As long as I can play entertaining, exciting games, it is good enough for me. Sometimes I play a game I am really satisfied about. That is why I had the courage, to publish a game in the Blumenfeld Gambit in NIC, about two years ago. I am still proud of GM Van der Sterren's comment, that I am capable of good thinking. Not bad for a 1800 patzer like me, is it?
Of course other attitudes are fully justified. Some prefer slow, manoeuvring games. Others just want to raise their ELO. I can proudly say, that I have teached a few of the latter kind a hard lesson at the chessboard. The second time they meet me, they usually beat me. That is OK too.
In my opinion chess would be dead very soon, if everyone had the same attitude, played the same openings and had the same style. So I do not judge anyone, who differs from me; even not those who are so scared to lose, that they avoid all risk. I just do not want to be condemned, because I play a kind of game which is disapproved by real or false authorities.
My only advice to others is: make sure you enjoy the game. How to do this, is very personal.