The big laydown is a rare thing. The fold happens at some point in every hand we don't win. Flight is also important in the skill of choosing when to quit a game. Attempting to minimize losses should add more money to a player's pocket than attempting to maximize profits simply because there are more opportunities to do the minimizing. Consequently, bets are squandered.
Profit is reduced.
Money not lost spends the same as money won. Poker is a bottomless pit of decisions and actions with financial ramifications. Cunning, fraud and flight puts more money in your pocket.