Spot on. When I make that argument its from the perspective of me at 18 with the options to do either. I think you're making an important counter point that many don't have the option to begin with, due to money, citizenship, parental/child care, relationships, illness, education level, etc. - although scholarships heavily target most of those demographics.

They were very happy that I decided to get a desk job because they didn't want me to be in perpetual pain and disabled like they are.

Especially people who do physical work themselves try to make sure their kids won't have to. E.g. my grandparents, who were simple village folks working in the fields, made sure to support their kids in getting educated. (Despite all its nastyness, one of the few good things about socialist Hungary was that this kind of upward mobility was possible and encouraged).

My uncle was an electrician (he's retired now), and so is one of his sons, and they both seem pretty happy with their lives. Happier than a lot of tech workers I know.

I don't fault anyone for not sacrificing themselves for the greater good of society at large.

And yes, for sure, there can be shitty, stressful and low-paid office jobs and fulfilling, well-paid physical work. If someone finds an example of the latter, I see no reason why they wouldn't recommend it to their kids.