I think you are underestimating how willing they are to lie to themselves that they are 'having fun and this is a good game'. Literally, I have friends doing this with Starfield, and I'll watch them play it and Baldur's Gate 3 and the difference between their reactions and happiness level is readily apparent.

I liken it to the reaction of guys who have been burned on a weed purchase, where it's really shitty weed. He may eventually buy some good weed, but he'll still keep the crappy weed around and convince himself it's worth it, even mixing it in with the good stuff, diluting it for no real reason, or saying 'it's more of a CBD high, y'know?' when he clearly isn't having a good time on it. It's gotta be some combination of the sunk-cost with the minor dopamine hit. It's wild to watch.