I am also obsessed with grade. But, I keep a spreadsheet, and tend to obsess over everything! Strangely, it relaxes me to obsess. I like to use the gradient function on the cyclometer for a variety of reasons.

When I glance down and see that I am managing to sit and pedal up a 15% grade (however short!!), I feel good about myself.

When I am struggling and struggling up what looks like a gentle hill, I understand it more when I see that it is actually a sort of false gentle, and more like 10%.

When I am feeling sorry for myself on a hill, and feeling tired, when I look down and it is only 5%, I realize I can just buck up and keep going, because I know I can do that grade for a long time.

When I am doing unknown rides, and a hill is intimidating me, when I see that it is the same percentage as a hill at home, I feel like I know how to pace myself or deal with it.

Believe it or not, when the view is pretty, I do look at it rather than the computer.