> programming on programming itself ... does seem a bit
  > 'meta' and removed from why we're all doing this in the
  > first place.

I heartily disagree, and think that tools vs. "actual problems" is a false dichotomy. Software design/engineering is very much its own discipline. A good API/framework/whatever can lower defect rates and generally make your software more coherent and maintainable. That saves time, money, and headaches. We should absolutely care about the tools we use, because nobody else is going to, hence "programming on programming." Attributing that to a quest for "celebrity" is cynical, and I don't see how you can blame programmers for seeking a good professional reputation by creating tools for their peers.