Re your…
“irritates me that physical STUFF that requires so much effort to produce has to be given away for peanuts”
You’re exactly right. I made several posts about that. The people that actually produce important needs and wants, are treated like chumps, paid chump change, fair game for the greater good. Same thing for savers. If you have unspent funds, you are so wealthy and disliked you don’t deserve any interest payments.