Does anyone actually care about these summer friendlies?

I was watching the highlights from the New York match last night, and I can't help but feel like these preseason tours are becoming more about the venue and the ticket price than the actual sport. It feels like we're just watching high-budget exhibitions where the results don't matter, the lineups change every twenty minutes, and the intensity is basically zero.

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing my team play, but seeing them travel halfway across the world to play in massive stadiums just for a "friendly" feels a bit hollow. It's hard to get invested in the scoreline when you know neither side is playing with their usual grit. It feels more like a glorified marketing tour than a legitimate test of skill.

Am I just being a cynic, or do these mid-summer exhibition games feel increasingly disconnected from the real season for you guys?