It’s not that Voldemort is optimizing for evilness, it’s just that he doesn’t see a point to restricting his evil impulses as he pursues whatever goals he has, e.g. taking power to defend the magical world against the muggles.
That would make sense if it were true, but I feel like he is going out of his way to be evil, even if it doesn’t involve intellectual stimulation or fun. You don’t get that impression?
I’d also expect him to at least try spending some time exploring intellectually stimulating things like chess to see if that is something he wants to spend more time pursuing, but I don’t recall him doing that.
That would make sense if it were true, but I feel like he is going out of his way to be evil, even if it doesn’t involve intellectual stimulation or fun. You don’t get that impression?
I’d also expect him to at least try spending some time exploring intellectually stimulating things like chess to see if that is something he wants to spend more time pursuing, but I don’t recall him doing that.