Often we are scared to take the easy route because it looks more difficult. We're comfortable sticking with what we know and avoid learning new things even if it makes it far more difficult for us to reach our goals. Sometimes we do this out of laziness, but more often we do it because we fear the unknown.
An absurd example that shows similar reasoning:
- I've seen in videos that it's possible to run marathons of 26+ miles. It's it really necessary to learn to drive a car if I can just run everywhere instead?
Never be afraid to learn something new. You will often surprise yourself. Maybe this just means learning a new algorithm for cubing, maybe it means taking a more difficult major in college, and maybe it means applying for a job that's above your qualification or experience level.
Menial grunt work pays off in the short term. Learning new things pays off in the long term.