It is not fun being broke, exhausted and having little time to prepare a meal before you drop from exhaustion then do it again the next day. Hoping might get something edible is not fun. You just want something that isnt boiled shoe leather and is inexpensive. If you were not born into a life where people taught you to cook I can assure you learning to cook decent meals on your own is not fun in any way.
This "Fun experimental cooking" is a very,very privileged thing.
Ummm no. Not unless you are already very knowledgeable and experienced in cooking.
I cook nearly every meal I eat BTW.