I have some sympathy with the idea but perhaps from a different point of view. If a hill is too steep, I'm content to push. If it's too rough going down, I'm content to get off and walk – my off-roading skills are minimal. And in many ways, on such terrain, I'd rather be on my feet and travelling more slowly in order to savour the surroundings. OTOH, though I don't currently have a mountain bike (and now seems like a really bad time to buy one), I do enjoy riding off road, or perhaps I should say on gravelled or mud roads and tracks.