Ha, well my cold tolerance is clearly in the baby pool compared to @wendy_morgan9's Alaska level! I'm the person whose fingers stop working after 20 minutes in what you'd probably call a warm lake. Tried to stick it out once in a thick wetsuit on a longer job, and I spent the last hour basically useless, couldn't even clip a carabiner right. For me, shivering that hard just isn't safe or smart. The drysuit keeps my brain working so my hands can actually do the thing I'm getting paid for.

Actually older homes often had them added during renovations.

Honestly jordanc68 is right that your eyes adapt with practice. Tbh I tried tempering some small tools in my dim garage last winter and gave up, just used my phone flashlight like a goof. It really is one of those skills where bad light just makes the beginner phase way harder.