I know others who have felt the same way as you...and now feel the same way as you about gardening so you're in very good company.
I liked your reference to the need for food and the changing climate because I feel we are eading into a point in time when people will need to be much more self reliant. Socially things are declining rapidly and environmentally also, at an alarming rate actually. I'm not into 3D printed food or eating spaceman food from a tube so I grow things. It will also come down to having other skills to support one's own life but the ability to grow is a big one...and something humans have spent the last couple hundred years forgetting.
I'm glad you like gardening, it speaks highly of a person's character that they have space for such things. As for lawn...I have some now but less than I used to. Back in the day, (and no judgement here) I had lean with the straightest edges, all clipped with a small set of scissors, and the top was like the top of a billiard table. It was, let's say, a healthy habit...but fucken time consuming and somewhat OCD of me. Lol.
Hahahaha, I honestly really appreciate the effort that goes into a well-manicured lawn and garden, and truly, sitting on a nice lawn is such a pleasure. If rainwater/water was abundant I'd be all for it, but at this point I'd just rather the water and effort go to growing food, plants and pollinator-attracting flowers.
It's kind of ironic that humankind's ability to optimize for agricultural economies of scale might actually harm us all in the long run. Apparently 40% of post-WWII fruit and veg was from home gardens and I think it's very likely we'll end up with similar stats in the future.
You've got the right idea and I am all for it. My grass is back at my other house where I no longer live so it's not as sexy as it used to be, but still turns heads; it's getting bloody difficult to upkeep it though; time constraints. If I had 25 hours a day I'd still not get everything done that's required each day.
Your last paragraph...that's some scary shit but I'm not surprised. Progress doesn't come without cost and (unfortunately for humans) it's a cost we will all pay for a long time to come.