To be honest, this is part of the reason I didn't participate in side quests. I *felt* the pressing need for V to save herself. Side missions for this life that was destroying me didn't seem relevant (I never really needed money.)
But maybe that says more about me and what I was looking for in the game, than the game itself. I think other people are able to switch tracks from "story" mode to "game" mode easier than me - separate the plot from the entertaining mechanics.