What if we had control to cause the sun to go supernova by doing something that everyone on earth has access to, like simply arranging a small pile of pebbles in a rough pattern?
That would not be good or progress.
Moving people up Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Technology enables that.
my grandparents spent 8 hours sowing and reaped 100g of rice
yesterday I spent 8 hours sowing and reaped 200g of rice
today I spent 8 hours sowing and I will reap 300g of rice