I just can't see a problem with making things more fun if possible. My daughter has a sales and marketing job and they use a form of gamification. It is very effective. She often wins rewards for the highest sales on her team. It works for her and it is fun. What's wrong with that?
Rewards worked really well with training my dog. I hope for more for our kids' education.
If you see a value in education and in the college experience that go beyond what can be on a sticker chart than it is problematic. "Great ideas Plato, you've earned five points and you advance to the next level, now try to earn your logic points."
You mentioned it would have value for teaching social skills. Perhaps there would be fewer struggles with developing appropriate social skills and appropriate motivation if student's didn't have stunted development due to being plugged in all the time.
