I like this article as I can identify with the experience of learning a trade as a young man. I was a sheet metal worker once and spent my young adult years installing air conditioning in Los Angeles.
I don't have a college degree, but managed to learn enough to get a job as a software analyst, so I'd say that learning a trade built my work ethic and skills of dexterity. I like to put things together, too.
To me, the take away for this article is that learning a trade teaches many skills, not just building things, but to work together, too. I wish we had programs like that in the US that were more comprehensive and could teach many more kids how to work with their hands. Someone has to do that work.
As to the robots, I think there is pretty good evidence that is not happening as fast as the press would like us to believe. One economist I follow is Dean Baker and he says that productivity growth in America has been relatively flat for the last decade or so. That doesn't sound like robots to me.
This is a great post and from it, I learned how apprenticeships are done right.
Thanks so much for your interesting input. Your path seems to have served you well!