for all or almost all the things you mentioned (except for maybe pro bodyguard), there are safer, better, more lucrative, more popular, more fun (subjectively and objectively by sheer participation #s) alternatives.
for example, self defense holistically should start with mental, physical, financial safety. far better to be, say, a doctor living in a safe neighborhood at a safe job than worrying about unarmed violence. etc., etc. for pro sports, there are FAR BETTER options and always will be. if for some reason you really think combat sports are the most fun sports, objectively you're obviously in a niche, but subjectively, not sure how you missed out on all the really popular sports out there ... for emergency preparedness, there are many other things up to the point of being a paranoid prepper. but if that's your reason for MA, you're already on the "prepper" path. etc., etc., etc. ....
but at the end of the day, there's just something fascinating about hand to hand fighting. none of those other things have whatever that is.