It costs alot of money to be able to continue to fly or keep a plane.
You may not always be earning what you do now i.e. after retirement or like now, reduced IT rates/oportunities and may not be able to continue to fly for all your useful life !!
With a CPL/ATPL you can at least receive money for flying rather than having to depend on your bank balance for ever.
Being able to receive money for your flying may keep you flying for longer I think !!