I don't know what you define progress as, but much of the "progress" we are having now is just perfecting and carrying over breakthrough discoveries in research that have happened in the previous century. Real progress is always slow. What I am saying is: if people didn't have to worry about time and money, a lot more would be doing meaningful things.

By the way the main reason why I am so passionate about Bitcoin is it gives back time to people, because if their savings are not stolen from they don't to worry about money AS MUCH.