I’d disagree that it’s a basic need or that it’s not too much to ask. I think most people on this board have had to deal with not automating a one off task because the time to automate it is longer than the time saved.
Spending time learning how to read a font optimized for hand writing that you might need to read a handful of times in your life seems like it would fall into the same category of work that’s not worth the time
When I was a pup, my mum had several occult books, including on divination with runes.
Because of this, I learned to read them.
Because of this, I got slightly more out of the maps (and cover) of The Hobbit than most normal people — Tolkien used runes as merely a font for Dwarfish, which was really just English.
I wouldn't say that this is any more useful than cursive.
I'm not arguing you have to be 100% self sufficient, but learning to read what amounts to a specific font shouldn't be too much to ask.