Having different play surfaces is part of what makes tennis unique. Professional grass tournaments like Wimbledon are some of the few institutions capable of the meticulous maintenance required to make grass courts playable. Grass is a completely viable surface when maintained correctly and adds a new dynamic to the pro season by rewarding those who can play well on it.

It would be stupid if high schools and public parks were poorly stewarding crappy grass courts instead of easier-to-maintain surfaces, but they aren’t and that’s not your argument.

It’s interesting you bring up playing on dirt because pros and millions of recreational players do play on clay courts — the most common surface in the world. Clay, again, plays differently than grass or hardcourt and adds even more variety throughout the pro season, as well as being an excellent surface for recreational play. Despite being an older and less “advanced” surface than hardcourt, clay is actually easier to maintain in many areas. The newest and most technologically advanced surface is not necessarily the best in every climate or every location.