Cow Clicker and Social Games on Trial

The concept of a 'challenge-free game' as the author points out seems to be fed more by narcism and the opportunity to say 'hey I'm doing something', even when that something is to say 'hey I'm doing something'.

A downward spiral that has strangely captured the imagination of many.

Does anybody thing FourSquare is in the same boat? I get awarded for 'checking-in'? So I get rewarded not for meeting a challenge, but for taking a simple action when I do something that I always do anyway? Do I deserve a reward for buying my 5th latte?