Sprinklers are the exception that proves the rule, though. I think the game’s attitude towards automation is exemplified by the auto-petter, which is mostly locked behind following the “evil” storyline path.

I mean yeah, there are a few things you can get to chip around the edges in the extreme late game, but even when you unlock hoppers you still have to remove processed items from machines manually.

If Stardew really cared about automation, it would have some automated way of delivering harvested and processed goods to the shipping bin. (Conveyer belts, hiring NPC farmhands, junimo porters – something!)