why would anyone purchase a food product that must be pounded into submission with a hammer??

Cubed steak is one of our favorite meats: lemon pepper, flour, mushroom soup. Lots of gravy for the potatoes. Yum!

Chicken piccata is pretty good...but not exactly pounded into submission. Just to 1/2 inch thickness.

That same argument can be used for marriage

It's cheap. People need to eat.

Some recipes call for tenderizing

the pounding is to make the meat tinder ,,

Loads of stuff you can make with that.
Pies; suet pudding; kebabs; soups; casseroles; curries;....

Routinely -- a good pounding can tenderize anything. ;)

Cubed steak is delicious, unless it's. poor quality piece of meat.

It's stress relief. Come home from work, get out the old cube steaks, pretend it's your boss's face, go to town, chew it angrily, cry in sleep, repeat the next day.

Chestnut

Yes, I’m much less inclined to prepare labor-intensive dishes as I get older. I may have the time now, but seldom the energy. 😅

I understand exactly what you’re saying. Pain and sacrifice bring fruits of thy labour

Kudos to ya

Cubed steak is great for chicken fried.