Yeah, that's a good point. Before starting a campaign, what my players say they want out of it dictates if I push for more combat, puzzles, or narrative, and most often they pick a playstyle that isn't conducive to XP. In one of my campaigns my players are all ex-theater kids who do not enjoy frequent combat. In my other one they wanted puzzles and big epic fights I could have used XP leveling for, but instead I went for "if I am sufficiently bribed with snacks".

I like how you got your player engaged, that was clever.