[cmrdporcupine]

The thing is they've almost always been a small minority except for brief periods in history, and in certain places, that we tend to look at romantically. Looking back to Roman or Feudal estates, they were large operations run by dozen or hundreds of people. Yes, in Roman times there were smallholders, but they were never as efficient or large.

Farming is hard, low margin work.

[mistrial9]

this is not true - massive areas (larger than the mid-West of the USA) are being farmed that way right now.. South East Asia, midlands South America, large swaths in Africa, and large areas in modern India.. not counting whatever is happening in China territory..