I don't think there's anything wrong with your approach to the game. You're looking at it like an entertainment cost... and frankly, so do I.

There's nothing wrong with seeing your bankroll as a score in a video game... It is. Money is how you keep score in poker.

I dawdled at break even poker for almost a year, and it's really only been the last 3-4 months where I've started to see my bankroll climb, but you know what? I had a blast during that break even period, and I've yet to ever end up in the negatives playing poker. Not many people can say that. It is a game... there's nothing wrong with your approach so long as you're enjoying it.