(Philosophical/Sentimental Reply)
In Spanish, the word for "hobby" is "el pasatiempo" which literally translates as "to pass the time." I have to remind myself every moment I spend on this forum, shopping for new kits/supplies, designing/building, going to a field to fly, etc. as a means of choosing how I want to "pass the time" and spend my energy. So what is a hobby? As with anything else in life, it is a consumption of energy/resources wrapped up in feelings and emotions. Time + Money + Excitement/Anticipation = Living Life. When a rocket is lost/destroyed I engage in the common cycle of rationlizing the loss and then questioning whether the hobby is worth continuing.
I find it interesting to read through the comments in this thread and see the responses include the shared pain of some variable loss of "resource" attached to the hobby. Some have left the hobby and others forge ahead. I've probably re-BAR'd 3-4 times now since 1990 and I'm 43. I've experienced all sorts of rocketry losses that cut deep, and sometimes job losses fuel the desire to leave the hobby, until I find that next great opportunity. This latest re-engagement in the hobby though has me remembering one thing that I will never regret: the time I spent making friends, sharing laughs/heartbreak, and being a part of a community. Each time I've restarted dabbling in collecting, building, flying, etc. I ALWAYS find myself reaching out to local rocketeers, going to club launches, finding neighborhood kids to spread excitement, etc.
How each of us chooses to "pass our time" and utilize these resources is up to each one of us. In the grand scheme of life, all of "it" and the resources we generated and consumed are "lost" when our time comes. I just hope someone I met along the way was positively impacted or has a greater enjoyment of the hobby (or life) because of some influence I had.
Losing rockets is such an irrational tailspin emotion, but as others have mentioned, is all a part of the hobby. Sorry you had a maiden flight loss.
That's happened to me several times with kits that I had invested more time or money than I could afford (at the time). All the best. -E