When I'm waiting for a machine to finish making the item I've set it to make, I'd like to be able to do other things, including crafting and using other machines. After all, I can walk away from the machine, even leave the street, and it keeps running. It doesn't seem to make sense that I can't use most of my tools or even load up another machine.
In real life, I don't wait around doing nothing while my washing machine, dryer, or dishwasher are running, and I can load up and use all of those things simultaneously. Even machines that require me to pay attention to timing, such as when I'm baking, don't require me to stand around twiddling my thumbs the entire time (and on my fancy oven, I can even set it to start and stop baking at certain times).
I don't know all the reasons it's set this way, but it just seems like some enforced boredom for no apparent benefit. I stand around while my mood drains away (unless I spend that time meditating, which gets really old after a while) when I could be repairing or crafting.
Could this be changed? Could we be permitted to do stuff while machines run? And, if not, could we at least know why not? Thanks.