We are in a period of magical thinking. Absent of learning process, people have shifted towards the idea of innate skill. It’s a false idea.

Yep. I’m convinced that the closest thing we have to innate talent is love of the skill. It always takes work. Some people are wired to understand a little more a little earlier in the process, but work is what develops skill.

As for learning things with no material gain: it’s hard to predict. I started learning lock picking last year. I’m firmly mediocre, but when the front door knob broke, I bought a knob with the same keyway at the hardware store and keyed it the same as every other door in the house. I didn’t start the hobby with that in mind, but it came in handy.