Art is one of the areas of human endeavour that has the greatest amount of 'lasting value' - you only need to look at the numerous existing works that are around, and how much pleasure people derive from them, to see that.

Even if you are only an average artist yourself, and your own works will not be appreciated by many in the future, for many people they would like nothing more than being able to spend time creating art. Besides, software is half science, half art...

Perhaps you didn't intend it, but putting art in the same boat as hedonism is giving the latter way, way more credit than is appropriate. :)