I used to think that cooking was overated, partly because I cook and I suck at the love game. Sigh. Then a real life example changed my thinking.
Then my grandma fell sick with cancer. And my aunt who cooks took very good care of him. She understood about nutrition and because she's generally a housewife who can take care of people, she was able to take care of my grandma properly.
Your last line may sound crude, but seriously, I think taking care of old folks, cooking for them and taking care of them is important.
Even if a guy doesn't think for his present, he must think for his future. Imagine you marry a sinkie woman who cannot take care of you, how can she take care of your kids?
You can argue that the maid can cook and help to take care of the kids, but what about the guy's old age?
Worse still, when you get old and sick, imagine having a wife who only knows how to go shopping.
Imagine having cancer and only have "da pau" food to eat, and when you can't control your functions, the maid have to help you wash up. Now that must suck.