There are concrete measurable benefits to the complex things we build. Improvements to quality of life, increased time for recreation, etc. On the other hand,

There are concrete measurable benefits to the complex things we build. Improvements to quality of life, increased time for recreation, etc. On the other hand, you make a fair point - tangible contribution to Things is probably built into us from our origin as tool-makers. But isn't the gradual separation from direct contact with Made Things inevitable? At some point the body of knowledge required to make a meaningful contribution grows so large that learning it approaches the human lifespan. How can we avoid too much hyper-specialization in that case?