Considering personal relationships as "investments" of sorts disgusts me to the core...
especially because we're all familiar with friendships that turn out to be purely transactional relationships like with drinking buddies which fizzle out as soon as the activity itself is no longer welcoming. treating friendships literally as investments encourages surface level transactional relationships, which is the opposite of what you'd want to be happy!
IDK, people generally grow and care for trees as investments (wood, fruit), research, or sometimes maybe a hobby. Not sure which one would apply to friendships best.
Is a difference of intention and vibes, not a real concrete measurable difference.
I think everyone values people for what they can do for them. It's only called narcissism or Machiavellianism when you mess it up and hurt someone