You are under impression that your skill in fixing things is free. Vast majority of people can not change break pads, can not understand a youtube video explaining how, can not oil a chain, can not fix a flat. Ability to problem solve and fix things is how a trade person of handyman can make very good money, as even using a stud finder and putting a screw in the wall is arcane magic to lots of people.

This is tragic but this is current state of western civilization. Bring Shop back to school.

I doubt that the vast majority of people cannot understand a youtube video explaining how, nor that the vast majority of folks cannot oil a chain. Most folks can use a stud finder and put a screw in the wall and it seems like a rather poor reading of humanity to judge people on this, especially considering how many folks live in apartments that disallow holes in the wall (and have never had a need to learn the skill).

I bought a bike last year. I've never seen anyone as unhelpful as the staff there. I even decided to start servicing more complicated parts (fork/shock) myself to avoid visiting places like this. Bay Area prices for labor are insane. Maybe I'll give wheels for truing somewhere local since it's tedious and I don't have that much time.

On the other hand I've lived in places where truing wheels, servicing suspension fork and other regular servicing was really worth it. Prices were good, wait (1-2 weeks in the summer) decent and you were sure that they did a good job. No screwing around just to have the customer get wheel out of true 1-2 weeks later, they'd rather tell me to replace the spokes when needed instead of doing a crappy job. Whatever needed to be replaced (rotor, brake pads etc.) during the service was sold at online-like prices.

I completely understand that plenty of local bike stores offer no value to anyone who can do basic maintenance. I hope they go bankrupt as early as possible. I'm not scared I'll run out of good bike stores. There's plenty of complicated tech that requires good technician. E-bikes and other trend also help.

Maybe you need a better shop? A couple of weeks back I broke a couple of spokes (finally found the weight limit of a Gazelle Heavy Duty NL bike - probably about 200kg of people), they fixed the spokes, realigned the wheel, and replaced the chain for €35.

Local bike shops aren't exactly rolling in dough. If you ask your local car mechanic how much they'd charge to remove a stuck bolt you'll also encounter a labor minimum that'll be a lot more than $40.

Sure, but that's not really my problem. I'm not rolling in dough either, and that's why I don't usually use local bike shops.

If they want my business, they need to match what I can afford somehow.

Again... I don't care about how much you, or I, spend on bikes. I'm a nerd, I do most of the work myself. You seem like that too.

I'm talking about cost in relation to alternatives. If the cost in relation to alternatives is low, then you can easily afford luxurious maintenance, as you'd be spending the same money, and lots more, paying for any alternative.

Just because the cost in relation to alternatives is low does not mean that you can easily afford luxurious maintenance. Some folks are poor, and spending more on x means less for y - and sometimes y is food or electricity.

Heck, that last one is true even if you aren't doing luxurious maintenance.

Well yes, if the alternatives are viable.

For someone on grad student income, owning a car is largely not viable, it's not even an alternative that is remotely in sight.