After many years I'm still pasionate about programming, still do it in my spare time and enjoy my work.
But, it really does need to be in a language and platform I enjoy. I also notice that if you have a job with a more niche language all your collegues will be passionate about the work too.
This is why I personally do not care much about language comparisons. It might be that the language of my choice is only marginally better and in some case worse as a more mainstream language. But there are cultures around languages and you need to fit with that culture to get the most joy out of your work.
I think those that choose to go into programming purely because it can earn well (I have nothing against this by the way) will choose to invest in one of the more popular languages because there are more job opportunities in it. Also there would be any, let's say, Common Lisp bootcamps so it is more likely that the people that know it have picked it up because of some passion.
When focusing on nice languages it is very easy to get hired for positions that need it because there is less competition. Though, contrary to what I would have expected usually it pays a little bit less. The highest paying jobs I had so far were in Java.
But, it really does need to be in a language and platform I enjoy. I also notice that if you have a job with a more niche language all your collegues will be passionate about the work too.
This is why I personally do not care much about language comparisons. It might be that the language of my choice is only marginally better and in some case worse as a more mainstream language. But there are cultures around languages and you need to fit with that culture to get the most joy out of your work.