I pretty much only use hand tools and I construct things using traditional joinary. It is challenging on a lot of levels. Finding a design that works, the joints you choose, the order you alter each piece of wood and the skill in which you weild your tools.

It's hard. There are so many ways to get it wrong and it's obvious when you have. It's usually a fixable when you or cheap enough to do again, so it there is low pressure except from yourself to be good.

The basic skills are highly transferable so it makes sense to invest in yourself.

I find this combination suites my personality. I've been doing it for 7 years and love it just as much as when I started. Probably more.

At least for me, I like wood working for many of the reasons I like engineering - I like building things! One aspect of wood working I really enjoy is how peaceful it can be, in that it can get you away from your phone and other electronics and requires pretty significant attention/focus at times (e.g., using a saw, chiseling, using a lathe, etc.). It’s also really cool to have something to show for and that is functional when you are done (my first project was an 8 foot picnic table).