hmmm....I've always found a way to find it interesting, but lately I've started a speed record (for myself-don't know how the others are doing!) for my best scales. Usually I learn them because I have to play it in exams. It's not a good habit to play just for that, but sometimes I still replay them even though I'm not preparing for an exam. Scales are very important, even professional pianists do them before concerts for warming up. And somehow I've also been able to play them more fast than usual-so it helps a lot of the worst sections in an exam like sight-reading.