You can use the train trip to read (or sleep if you can do that, I can't) but you also can't really put your music or podcasts and you have to deal with other people. The train changes can also be very stressful.
Then there's traveling at your destination, if you need a car at your arrival the advantage of the train plummet, whether you need to rent one (which is expensive) or borrow one (which imposes on your hosts).
FWIW that's exactly why despite being in europe after years of taking the train when I go back to see my family I ended up now renting a car instead (I usually live car-free):
* both my own home and my family are a bit out-of-the-way, there's public transport (though not ideal) around my own home but none at the destination so I'd need to impose e.g. be fetched at the train station, with regular issues of delays and friends
* by train the entire trip takes about 8 hours, with 6 transport changes (some rather annoying / stressful), by car I can take a more direct route so it only takes 0530, and I can stop when I want (I usually end up stopping twice and taking between 0600 and 06:30)
* by train there is no real independence unless I rent a car anyway, I just end up bothering to go see the rest of the family, meanwhile renting a car lets me more actively help
* even if I don't rent a car at the destination, the financial gain of the train is basically nil, the train is rather expensive unless I take a slow train and basically need two days to make the trip
* and finally carrying shit in the train is a pain in the ass, both ways, I can easily load presents or stuff in a rental car, and bring comfort food or whatever back, there is no space premium of any sort
My wife, on the other hand, being a passenger for such a trip, she arrives and then is wasted for 2 days.
But if you really want to be miserable on a trip... Take a train. My wife and son did that same trip by train a few years ago and: was delayed a solid day by flooding, lost power, had to suffer with malfunctioning toilets for part of the trip, and it cost more than flying or driving (counting hotels).
https://blog.orbcomm.com/tachograph-rules-european-drivers-h...
but when they are caught exceeding the limits they are hit very hard (possibly including confiscation of the vehicle & cargo, as well as massive fines and possibly loss of drivers license). And that's good for everybody, the lorry drivers included, it gives them the expectations of a reasonable work day as well as the improved safety for everybody else and a level playing field. Fraud with these devices used to be rampant, it is getting a bit better now with the digital generation which is more tamper proof.