@Tfmonkey I forgot to comment earlier, but there are Minecraft modpacks that add objectives and goals to meet. They are still things like "build an X" but the process to do so is gated behind various technologies.
Not all Minecraft is just an open sandbox. There's one based off Harvest Moon which is quite fun. There are even some dedicated to post-apocalypse gameplay or High Fantasy settings. Some do little crafting and focus on looting and dungeon crawling.
Never play vanilla Minecraft.
@RoninGrey @Tfmonkey All your points have merit and I have great respect for people's work in minecraft, especially those who make those amazing megalithic structures without world edit tools.
I brought this up because I don't think TFM is aware that Minecraft isn't merely a sandbox that can be used for creative expression--not with mods.
@DoubleD @Tfmonkey It's like people who paint, build models, write songs, or write fiction/poetry (I do all of these things) -- it's just fun to let your creativity go and see what comes out. I do it all for fun, not to polish up, perfect, and sell.
So I build a world in "vanilla" Minecraft because it's a creative outlet, whether others see my builds or not. It's also easy to get back into it after a year of not playing, and you won't have to remember the story or re-learn skills.