One of the most important traits of intelligence is understanding and appreciating delayed reward.

I saw a gambler win the jackpot. He was really excited and started gathering up all the chips he'd won. Why he was so excited to win a bunch of plastic chips, I'll never know. What's so great about plastic chips? Why was his brain so excited when all he was doing was gathering plastic chips? ...

A half-second delay doesn't mean your brain can't learn to make the precursor feel good.