@OP

You want a fix to the problem? Encourage developers to quit producing content that allows the player to be entirely apathetic towards it with no negative repercussions, and make participating in that content beneficial to character growth and progression. That seems to be what your friend deems "meaningful" in a game. That's their drive behind their personal entertainment.


Personal entertainment is a matter of taste; what one individual finds entertaining or engaging may not be entertaining or engaging to another. When it's optional/auxiliary; does it matter?


If you beat Super Mario Bros. by skipping over most of the worlds did you actually beat the game?

The fact is this thread is arguing against an individual's tastes from a basis in opinion.

Your "friend" has different tastes than you do and they obviously have a different opinion of what content is meaningful.

Some people love anchovies on pizza; and others think anchovies on pizza is repulsive.

Don't try to argue that your tastes and your pace of content consumption is applicable to everyone - and avoid talking as if your opinion is on some form of fanciful moral high-ground.