You're right, Jay. Do-it-yourself repairs, or just plain tinkering, is getting impossible with out special equipment that's usually more valuable than the car. Of course that complexity has given us cars making unprecedented power, clean exhaust and efficiency, from the same displacement.
I guess the best bet is a newer car for a daily driver and an old car for tinkering.... hobby car. That could take the form of a restoration, racer, show car, hot rod, custom or whatever blows your skirt up.
It's a lot more fun to tinker on Sunday afternoon without the pressure of having to drive it to work on Monday morning.
