For most of human history, the general public (aka: the “average user”) was unable to read or write for themselves. In many cases their interests were not well served by yielding that advantage to the relatively few who could.
Computers are an increasingly important part of life in our modern world, and the time where it was OK to be “computer illiterate” is behind us. Not that those who struggle with technology should be judged – on the contrary, we should encourage them to not sell *themselves* (and their own capacity for learning) short with statements like “it’s too hard” or “I’m just not a computer person”. Nonsense.