Retention vs. user well-being: are we optimizing the wrong thing?

I built a journaling app, and while working on it I noticed that almost every app
in the category follows the same playbook:

Streaks. Counters. Badges. "Don't break your streak."

To be fair, they work. Retention charts don't lie.

But I kept wondering:
At what point does a habit stop helping people and start feeling like homework they owe an app?

It's not just journaling anymore.

Fitness apps. Language apps. Meditation apps. Productivity apps.
Everyone is optimizing for return visits.

I'm less sure we're optimizing for how people feel when they come back.

So I did something that might turn out to be a mistake:
I removed streaks and most engagement mechanics from my app.

Maybe that's the right call.

Maybe it's naïve.

I'd love to hear from people who've built consumer products:

Is guilt an acceptable growth strategy, or are we overusing behavioral design?

(For context: the app is called Folio. I'm experimenting with what journaling looks like without the usual engagement loops.)