Sorry to quote only this single bit, but you wrote so much and I would need to “cherry pick” the parts I wanted to reply to.
Nowadays, it’s impossible to completely avoid computers. Like I wrote before, the smartphones in our pockets are just that: little computers. I talk to friends and family through “messengers” like Telegram and WhatsApp. We even have a family group, where we get in touch, invite one another to meals (not so much because of the pandemic), exchange photos… we get to see nieces and nephews that live far away more often. That’s the good part.
My real job, that pays for my cameras, film and chemicals, is in the IT area. I’m a “mobility specialist”, in the highly-specialized field of AIDC (pretty much barcodes and RFID). I configure barcode printers and scanners, and also work with related equipment, like networking. Recently, I got this one time gig to develop a software for Android-based barcode-enabled mobile computers. I’ve been pulling my hair out for two weeks now. Thankfully, I’m testing and working on the last details. It should be shipped by Monday.
And after that, I’m here talking to you guys, who are pretty much the only people I can have a decent talk about photography.
It’s a brave new world, indeed.