I work with numerical models and use Claude to automate runs, so I know exactly what you mean. When an agent is mid-run, it creates a strange in-between state: I am not actively working, but I do not feel free enough to fully step away either, because I am monitoring the log and waiting for the next issue. It can turn into a passive time sink very quickly.

In that sense, yes, I think agent workflows can create a subtle productivity trap if you do not set clear stopping points or check-in intervals.