For the Gods! Why would a carebear like me play an area dominance game like this?

About For the Gods!, from BoardGameGeek:

As a seafaring builder in ancient Greece, in For the Gods! you'll navigate the archipelago, constructing towering monuments to the gods and vying for control of sacred islands. For the Gods! is a tactical area majority game in which every stone shapes your path to victory. The rules are simple: Sail the seas to establish new temples or elevate existing ones. Along the way, collect God stones and unleash their divine powers at the right moment. With twelve unique God powers, each game offers fresh strategies and dynamic gameplay, ensuring high variability. -description from the publisher