I think it boils down to most of these folks don't have anything better to do. Or worse (the bucket I find myself in) this type of work is the most mentally stimulating thing I have, so I do it willfully at the expense of my wife and cats.
I'm still building the discipline to put the important stuff first!
By your own admission you are giving your work more import than your wife and cats. You are putting the important stuff (to you) first.