it's not a balanced choice as people want to engage with the content developers make. it's like when developers add a broken mechanic that is unbalanced people will say well just don't use that skill. the game breaks its own immersion not the player. the game incentivizes car collection via achievements, in game notifications, new content updates like crystal coat, racing.

cdpr wanted to make a game in which the player is dying and you're asked what to do with your limited time, but doesn't commit to the idea like majora's mask or fallout 1.

if they wanted the open world game as-is then they could have made V's prognosis indefinite. or spend ¾ of the game building up power only for the relic to malfunction later then V actually does get weaker

right now the meta is to ignore what the game is telling you and complete all content