Praying for Redemption - a daily obligation?

Last night, during my weekly shmooz (Torah and ethics address) at one of the local seminaries, a few people asked to what degree Judaism requires us to pray for Moshiach and redemption. I answered that at least 50% of our prayers are requests for the future redemption, Moshiach, etc. "That's impossible!", people called out from around the auditorium. I then tossed the audience a question, and asked that they shout back quick answers: "Of our daily Shmona Esrei (Hebrew for 18) prayer, which is actually a compendium of 19 blessings, how many are requests for the Geula, or future redemption?" Voices resounded like gunshots: "Four!" "One!" "Three!" "Two!" Four was the highest bidder. I then opened up a prayer book, and explained the blessings one by one, with the proper interpretation and intent of each one. Here are the results in capsulized table form - they're quite an eye-opener:

#	Blessing	Principal intent	Geula	Present
1	Magen Avraham	Guardian of Abraham, who shall bring the "Goel" (Moshiach) to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob's offspring	*
2	Mechaye Mesim	Hashem the King who shall revive the dead	*
3	Kel Hakadosh	Blessing our holy G-d		*
4	Chonen HaDaas	Request for wisdom		*
5	Harotze B'Tshuva	Help us return to You Hashem and to Your Torah		*
6	Hamarbeh Lisloach	Forgive us for our sins		*
7	Goel Yisroel	Redeem us quickly!	*
8	Rofeh Cholei Amo Yisroel	Heal the sick		*
9	Mevorech Hashanim	Bless this year's crops, the land, and give us rain		*
10	Mekabetz nidchei amo Yisroel	Gather the exiles from the 4 corners of the earth	*
11	Ohev tzedakka u'mishpat	Send us our judges (the Sanhedrin) as of old, and may we have true justice	*
12	Shover oivim umachnia zaydim	Destroy the forces of evil soon and in our time	*
13	Mishon umivtach latzaddikim	Reward those who trust in You, Hashem		*
14	Boneh Yerushalayim	Rebuild Jerusalem (the Temple ) and dwell among us, Hashem	*
15	Matzmiach Keren Yeshua	Request for Moshiach (scion of David) and salvation	*
16	Shomea tefilla	Hear and accept our prayers		*
17	Machzir Shchinaso leTzion	Return Your Divine Presence to Zion	*
18	Noeh Lehodos	May all of mankind thank and praise Your magnificent name	*
19	Mevorech es amo b'shalom	Bless your people of Israel with peace		*