I was trying to make a bigger point (using handwriting as one example) of having an innate sense of wanting to do better quality work in whatever you do. Maybe having the entire population with bad handwriting will push us faster into digital forms.

But as many have stated, maybe I'm just a cranky old dad and things will work themselves out with things he's genuinely interested in. :-)

Writing is extremely important. First google result,

Writing is an invaluable tool for exercising our cognitive faculties. Extensive and diverse research has suggested links between writing and mental capacities in such domains as memory, critical thinking, creativity, verbal skills, and overall health.

Keep encouraging it.

But here the thing, to your son handwriting isn't work, it's not something to take pride in, it is a chore, it is toil with little point or reward.

If you want him to engage in an activity, you need to show that it has some value, any value at all.

Taking pride in pointless activity is, well, pointless.