Unfortunately, many of us are chained to the modern way of life.
You can make a lot of money doing many skilled manual jobs in my country. Trades are highly paid and there is not enough supply. Better money than software development.
They often wreck their backs, or develop other chronic conditions. The successful ones stop doing manual work by the time they are in their 40s and move to running their own businesses employing 20 year olds.
A friend of mine just lost a family member a few weeks ago. He slipped on a roof.
This is because often the rules and laws protects still human instead the profits.
But Forestry also has the highest number of industrial accidents.
We have a strong health and safety regime and culture. Most primary industries are heavily automated. Yet it only takes a simple mistake to cause injury.
You want a modern life with some light manual labor on the side as a hobby.
ps: Unfortunately I agree with you.