True. Still, my view of the value, or pleasure inherent in, menial work has changed a hell of a lot over the last decade or two. Having lived in both worlds, I'll take the shovel.
The real point is that, for example, the "Dark Ages" were quite different than the story, "The Dark Ages", and may not have really existed at all. The real dark ages were the early industrial revolution.
Wage slavery is a real accepted reality, just has a slick PR package, but is twisting into the old Skinnerian story where, as in WWII, it becomes a moral obligation to sacrifice for the "common victory over the evil terrorist enemy". Too far from the truth to survive?
Dunno.

Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.