Great post. I wouldn't say that programming makes people less fun, but that the act of programming offers some valuable life lessons. The lesson of "you can't bullshit a compiler" transfers over to knowing how to spot bullshit, which _may_ make you less fun to shitty friends who spew bullshit.
It's the same with running. I picked up running last December, and I've definitely learned something. One learns not to focus on the end goal (say, running 10 miles), but instead to focus on each individual step. Obviously, this metaphor transfers to software development and anything else you do in life.