There is a lot of merit to this comment. Historically many individuals would have the option to progress (or at least the illusion of an option) from sweeping floors to something greater within a company. A line worker at a plant could easily become a machinist, and from entry level skilled labor move into advanced skilled labor.

At this point most of those jobs are done as 1099's via a proxy firm. There are few options for anyone in such a position to level up in, and pivoting to another service gig isn't going to provide significant upwards mobility options.

Even starting a business is more capital intensive now relative to the earnings you can make from it thanks to cheap money.

If there is no option to reasonably advance, it's reasonable that people will simply optimize to have the lowest effort.

It is more than that, it is a different flavor of hope, if your not having your time and soul devoured to attain the basics maybe something else will have a chance to grow. Yes without landmarks, guides, tutors, examples, culture many if not most will achieve the next level in some game instead as that is what they know, but some will bloom and that is more than good enough for me.