A sad trend, though the preceding generations aren’t much better – what percent of the population, for example, will take the stairs when there’s an alternative? But in their defense regarding your car-related examples (I am aghast at your cereal example): (1) In the U.S. most vehicles don’t even come with the option of a manual transmission. (2) Changing oil is not difficult, but dealing with the waste oil is. (3) If the tires were last put on by a professional with a pneumatic wrench, good luck getting them off. The last time I had a flat, I was jumping up and down on the spinner and could not budge the wheel nuts. Wound up having to drive down the shoulder on my flat tire until I could find a shop.
A sad trend, though the preceding generations aren’t much better – what percent of the population, for example, will take the stairs when there’s an alternative? But in their defense regarding your car-related examples (I am aghast at your cereal example): (1) In the U.S. most vehicles don’t even come with the option of a manual transmission. (2) Changing oil is not difficult, but dealing with the waste oil is. (3) If the tires were last put on by a professional with a pneumatic wrench, good luck getting them off. The last time I had a flat, I was jumping up and down on the spinner and could not budge the wheel nuts. Wound up having to drive down the shoulder on my flat tire until I could find a shop.