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The problem domain may seem a little wacky but the calculation itself is interesting and could be applied to some other 'meaningful' problems.

P.S. - Reminded me of one of those questions they ask at McKinsey when recruiting new analysts. E.g. How many golf balls are in the United States?

Those used to be called Microsoft interview problems, or Fermi problems. They were fun and cool until they became What Is Wrong With Tech Interviews.

It would be much more meaningful to calculate how many molecules of Caesar's pee are in your morning coffee :-/

Hey, it's better than burning 'em generating bitcoins.

The setting just motivates the demonstration of a method, which finds use in lots of places. Education is valuable.