I suspect that this kind of delight, even though it becomes routine, actually enhances user experience in the long run.
For example, I have compiz set to use the "Burn" effect when closing windows. This is delightful and unobtrusive, and completely pointless. But man is it a stress reliever when I decide to close all of my windows in frustration.
This is a good observation. You're probably right. Routine and habit and the actual experience of those routines and habits do have intrinsic value in the way you go about executing them :)
For example, I have compiz set to use the "Burn" effect when closing windows. This is delightful and unobtrusive, and completely pointless. But man is it a stress reliever when I decide to close all of my windows in frustration.