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ChristianKl comments on A "Failure to Evaluate Return-on-Time" Fallacy - Less Wrong
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I think a large part of the problem is simply not having the right mental toolkit to make these evaluations. It's not that people are evaluating return on investment incorrectly, so much as not evaluating it at all because they don't know how.
I've recently started using "Naritai Project" as a mental category (in reference to Tsuyoku Naritai), meaning something that improves myself or my habits, as a one-time act. For example, locating a more convenient gym counts, creating the habit of exercising regularly counts, but exercise itself does not. Anything classified as a Naritai Project is automatically high priority.
(And yes, I know this is a horrible abuse of Japanese grammar. Looking up the correct conjugation isn't important to me.)
Given to choice to start a running habit, which would you choose? a) Buying new running shoes b) Starting to run with your precious shoes
Psychological research suggests that b) has a higher chance of producing a lasting habit. Your strategy would however suggest that a) can be billed as high value wile b) doesn't.
It's no good idea to try to feel satisfaction for something else then following through on the habit. It reduces the satisfaction you can expect by actually following through because you already felt some satisfaction for the goal. Therefore you are less likely to follow through.
There also a related TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself.html
I would count (b) only the first time, when it's precedent-setting. I wouldn't count (a) at all, unless my current shoes were in such poor condition that they were a genuine obstacle to running; the connection between buying running shoes and running is quite tenuous, despite the name and the marketing.