Because humans are inherently lazy and seeking comfort. Technology has made us lazy. Technology is expensive and folks worked harder physically 50 years ago. Our jobs required us to lift and climb. We walked everywhere, seriously. That is my opinion anyway.

We expect it to be easy.

50 years ago I was sixteen and married. It was fairly common back then.

It is not. We might make it harder

There are just a handful of extremely wealthy people who call all the shots. They're not visionaries either, are greedy and stockpiling assets like there's no tomorrow. They couldn't care less about the elimination of jobs that are essential to the lives of everyday people. Cutthroat competitiveness is the new standard. An average person with desires to live a simple life is a loser, someone who "asked for it" if they can't afford housing or a humane quality of life.

Maybe you were younger 50 yesrs ago?