The whole point of the energy critique is that it's being wasted on something either useless or deleterious. You can argue with that take, but all you're doing with the "but what about dishwashers?!" response is asking them to pass a moral judgment on dishwashers, which isn't relevant to this discussion.
Also, Ethereum has been "soon to be env-friendly PoS" for years now. Let's revisit that if and when it actually happens.
Cryptocurrencies are our only counter yet against the abuses of the financial system by the governments. In some countries this abuse is only potential, on others - already very real.
In a country where a dictator can make you starve with a snap of the fingers, cryptocurrencies are vital to survival. So even 10x more energy 'wasted' on such an indespensable service would still be a bargain I'd take.
Protecting the wealthy from the government isn't exactly a cause many want to fight for. Using the government to reign in the wealthy is much more popular
In a country where a dictator can make you starve with the snap of the finger, what are you going to do, eat your virtual coins from your jail cell? Technology is notably not a solution to social problems
Protecting the wealthy? You have no clue about real problems of people resisting the dictatorship. Right now cryptocurrencies are the only reliable and untraceable way for Russian dissidents and underground to fund themselves. The key features are anonymousness and permission lessness, and Bitcoin/Monero can be turned into hard cash quite easily. Oh and it also allows you to receive funds from abroad with zero oversight, avoid paying taxes, etc.
If there will ever be an uprising, it'll be funded with nothing else but cryptocurrency.
So yes, cryptocurrencies are worth every watt of energy they use.
Also, Ethereum has been "soon to be env-friendly PoS" for years now. Let's revisit that if and when it actually happens.