I suspect what is driving your question is that you're mystified how you can be paid to produce work which isn't meeting some need, or being tangibly important in some way. If you're working on stuff which never reaches production or is immediately retired or restarted then it probably seems to you like a bad way to run a business.

I can sympathize. I worked for a bank in a role doing tasks which, to me, clearly did not meaningful add to the companies bottom line. In my estimation, my (and my department's) existence was a drag on the bottom line. I constantly found myself amazed that the company spent so much money in inefficient counterproductive ways. So I wasn't honestly all that surprised when my department was wiped out last week and I was laid off.

I think ultimately you're right: when it's all vapor then there will likely come a day or reckoning. But you never know how soon they day will come. Maybe it's a proactive restructuring of the company and they downsize and cut because they realize the error of their ways (and pivot to producing more value), or maybe it happens when the economy tanks and money gets tight.

I think you'd just be smart to continue to diversify your options however long you work in your current position. Play your cards in such a way that if you ever wanted to leave or had to leave, you would be able to frictionlessly pivot to something else. If you can do that then I say don't sweat making a buck off your employer's vapor production. When and if the gravy train comes to a halt, you'll be ready to do other things.

On the other hand, if you're not happy in your job--i.e., if you don't like your work, your colleagues, the environment, or your boss then consider staying there just long enough to make it legit (probably about a year) and then go looking for something else.

Good luck!