There's a large difference between "applying the concepts" and "doing useful things in electronics". The vast majority of people barely find utility in repairing what they already own, to say nothing of tinkering or creating something new.

The water analogy, is, in my opinion, the sweet spot for people who will never own a multimeter or fire up a SPICE program. It's the level that ought to be the expectation for citizens of a technic civilization.