I feel you on this point but I think you're off by one layer of meta. Consider: we were setting IRQs in DOS and cracking software protection by editing hex, but we were (generally) not soldering or mucking with vacuum tubes. (Or doing car repair in dad's shop)
That's awesome! I tried to work through the FreeDOS kernel in late middle school. It was beyond my skill level at the time but the excitement is still legit fresh in my mind.