Learning HTML, I don't see the value in my everyday life. Fixing a car, an appliance, plumbing, learning the settings on my iphone, etc...seems like it would give me more value in the long run, so, I'd be more interested in the time it takes to learn everyday skills.

I think the problem has to give the person long term value, for the interest level to kick in. But plenty of people don't care to learn anything, even the probelms that face them everyday. Can't answer that one. My two cents.