Some people do. Just off the top of my head - pilots and racers use sim games for procedure training and entertainment.
Civ explains visually rather well how economy, politics and culture intertwine, I am not surprised some find it more useful for understanding irl processes than chess. Chess can be insightful too. It teaches to always prepare well before big attack, and to never neglect the defence, even within completely winning positions. Useful concepts. Personally, I found many interesting parallels with life, while playing chess. Musk doesn't seem to know this or care. Overall, chess is way more abstract, it can be seen as less useful for understanding complex power dynamics.
A teacher experienced in civ can use the game to demonstrate economic process. Or a historical one. I've heard of one.
I am also one of those people, who is drawn towards more complex realistic simulators when it comes right down to it. Sometimes they open up venues, which are simply not available in games of old.