Future rewards versus instant gratification replicated in a game

I've played a lot of Destiny since it came out, and I did lapse for a short while to the farming strategy, but left it because it wasn't giving me good results, so instead I focused on leveling my reputation with factions to buy better gear, leading my character to better stats and higher level in a more predictable fashion than by relying on chance. Such dichotomy is present in our every day lives, but a game can speed up the results, and allows to see which of the two opposing strategies is better, di=one faster than in the real world in order to learn the lesson quicker, and with minimum consequences.