> why learn how to drive it when you can simply hop into a taxi?

Because hopping into a taxi is kinda expensive, most can't do that daily.

> in the age of self-driving cars it's just not a useful skillset to have

Self-driving cars are not there yet, especially as there are somewhat unpredictable human beings still driving around and imperfect infra. Laws are also not really there yet around the world too.

Self-driving is also kinda a black box that you don't really have control on, especially as long as these cars are connected to the mother company.

In a way, most of that is mostly true for programming and Gen AI as well (and Gen AI might become expensive as well), so your analogy might be quite apt in the end xD

Otherwise,

> because people find joy in doing it themselves

Many people seem to enjoy it indeed. I'd be perfectly happy delegating driving. I can like driving, but I don't enjoy the responsibility and the risk that I mess something up.

I do enjoy programming myself though :-)