The only problem is that the machine was built 300 years ago and almost no one would agree it works the way it's supposed to. The essential, defining aspect of human experience that you mention was invented by people who had the equivalence of, at best, a modern highschool education. I'd take my chances with contrarianism before I trust dumb old ghosts with my humanity.

"is an essential, defining aspect"

More likely, "was an essential, defining aspect briefly in the XX century".

That century is now over. Before that, you was expected to steer your own judgement while working on a farm (not very machiney experience), and after that, everything that can be replaced by a machine would.

Wouldn't pre-industrial farming still involve mostly mindless, repetitive work in the fields?

Yes and no. When there's a disturbance in the repetitive work, it's your task to figure out how to fix it. Also, high-level management of the operation (what to plant, when to plant, how much effort to spend on each task) is up to you too. In hilly places rice growing has created the whole new highly custom landscapes.

Compare this to XX century school or factory assembly line where you have no choices.