Actually, evolution does tend to be progressive from the point of view of selfish genes. It's just not necessarily progressive from the point of view of things like creature comforts.
I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing. Following pleasure and hedonic drives seems to lead nowhere. After all, isn't the most efficient route to happiness heroin?
Most animals spend 100% of the time conserving energy or hunting (primates and children play excluded). They don't do leisure.
Evolution favors the plentiful. Some might say the most fit to survive the earth are the roaches. We can't kill them, all our techniques fail, nukes won't kill them, they live off the scraps of crap that humans don't even think creatures can live on.
Agriculture ensured that we have an ability to feed an increasing number of people. It also means that we can settle any area, and as long as crops grow there, or crops can be IMPORTED there humans can spread to that area. With that came technology for defending it from humans and predators. From an evolutionary perspective, agriculture is perfect.
Most animals spend 100% of the time conserving energy or hunting (primates and children play excluded). They don't do leisure.
Sorry, you missed several of the essential activities. All of the important ones are summed up in the 4 Fs: feeding, fleeing, fighting and fornication.
I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing. Following pleasure and hedonic drives seems to lead nowhere. After all, isn't the most efficient route to happiness heroin?