"If we could do everything then there'd be no need for an economy."
I think this disregards an essential aspect of humanity, that we are incapable of solitude, but require society. This is the basis for my assertion that in due time people skills will be the ultimate measure of our worth, and that as soon as we start extracting resources in space, good company will increasingly become the most valuable resource in the universe.
"A small community of 1000 people could never hope to produce their own cars and build their own houses and phones with internet services. However again: technology, automation, and AI are lowering the bar so it's possible that self-sufficiency becomes more and more tenable for smaller and smaller economies."
I was about to become apoplectic and rant, but you immediately pointed out the fallacy that a small community cannot provide the blessings of civilization availed of automated decentralized means of production. Given suitable development and access to resources, which are inexhaustible across the vast, barren wastes of space and time, mere physical resources will become of negligent value, because everyone will be able to provide them with such facility that it will require literally no attention to such matters at all.
In due time, of course. Today I am accused of schizo ranting, despite none of the technology requisite to such automation being fictional, and everything necessary to do so already being proved out with prototypes. Clearly such circumstances might be prevented, but just as clearly absent overwhelming preventive measures they will eventually advent. I make no firm predictions as to when any opposition to such prosperity and freedom will be overcome and automated decentralized production mature, but only that it will eventuate in due time.
I realize your focus isn't on such far futures, but very much things that might eventuate within our lifetimes. At my age, my lifetime might consist of failing to make it to the bathroom, so my speculating on future events can easily seem surreal to folks reasonably expecting 50 more years of being trapped in a meat prison. It's all a matter of scale.
Thanks!