The auto light dimmer example is a classic case of improve ment, the switches are more reliable than a pot, the pots are harder to solder, weigh more and are therefore subject to more pressure from vibration and G forces.
As for the simple pleasure of riding horses, a lot of background has to go on before you mount the horse. The shoes need replacing, the stable mucked out, feed the horse or the horse bought in from the paddock, and that's before the saddle blanket is even looked at.