Thanks to RustyC -
for bringging this interesting question back to the top.

Me - I find earning the miles is a lot of hard work. I find the joy comes in using them so that one of our children can fly to visit us, or taking my wife with me (F or B of course) on the business trips - which is how I earn ALL my miles.

Am I a miser or not? NO - I think not. Have earned 2.25 million in AA; 800+k in Amex MR and 150k in HH with another 50k in three other airlines. Current AA balance is at 550k; Amex MR is unused and HH is down to 50k because I just gave my middle daughter and her new husband 5 nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and three more night at Hyatt on Lahai with a cert for a honeymoon gift. Looking at the AA balance says I have "used" 1.75 million miles on AA for tkts mostly; and mostly for the Wife and Kids. I spent 120k AA miles for my wife and I to go to London B/C (got an freebie to F/C r/t at checkin ) so that is 60k for me and twice bought stickers @ 40k each time for 80k, so that is a total of 140k on me over all these almost 17 years.

Nope - the joy is in seeing others use the miles as in having taken all of the four kids multiple times to SFO, including the Grandson - who loves the coast and the cable cars.
Earning = Hard Work
Using = JOY