Exactly. You can only fold so many hands before you "just have to play" some hands. Tournament play is a little different though as they last several days and you are going to see a lot of hands. But as the antes and blinds are raised you have to start playing marginal to junk hands or your going to go like Broomcorn's Uncle. (He anted himself to death).
The "I came to play" applies to my golf game as well. If I have a shot at reaching a par 5 in 2, even if the odds are heavily against me because of a poor drive, bad lie, or other factor 90% of the time I will still go for it. I always say, "I didn't come here to lay up."
As long as you view your gambling as entertainment, you haven't "lost" unless you're short more money than you would have spent on dinner and a movie, the opera, or a baseball game.
Bingo. I enjoy gambling a great deal. I will gamble on anything that I am personally involved with and have a modicum or control over the outcome. Such as golf and cards to name two. Sports? I have zero influence on the outcome so I won't bet.
Some of my friends and family are opposed to gambling or just won't gamble because they don't want to "lose" money. I look at it the way you posted. How much can I reasonably expect to spend if I go out on the town for the night? $50? $100? Pretty easy to do without any effort. So if I play poker for 4 or 5 hours with my buddies and end up losing $50 I am in the exact same place as if I went to a bar to have food, beer, and watch "the game."
Oooh... I know that feeling all too well. If I can make it, I feel I must try it. At least I've gotten to the point where I recognize this, and ask Mrs. kevkrom to make a mark of the scorecard for "Kevin being stupid" before I take such a shot, so I can remember later why I wound up with that 8 or 9.
You seem to have a rational approach to gambling. The nuts are the ones spending the grocery money on lottery tickets.