If your boss actually lets you make cool things then you are lucky....chances are that you are a salaried bitch who can code!
How can you be happy when your boss makes much more money than you writing emails all day...point is that you should really be the boss having an assistant who can write emails!
I understand your opinion here, and in fact I sort of share it, but having myself been in a situation where I affected the balance sheet in the low seven-figure range (in a good way) and received in return a good review and a 'keep it up', i.e. no raise or bonus, I can completely sympathize. It is maddening when people are buying expensive cars and nice homes with profits made possible by your work.
How can you be happy when your boss makes much more money than you writing emails all day...point is that you should really be the boss having an assistant who can write emails!