Pardon? Rugged computers (like business Thinkpads and Toughbooks) have existed for far more than a decade. I would more readily take such a thing to a construction site than an iDevice or an Android tablet.
The Toughbook CF-M34 (introduced no later than 1999... [That's almost a decade and a half ago.]) weighs four pounds (only 4x heavier than a current iPad, or 2.6x heavier than a first-gen iPad) and has a hand-strap [0][1]. Frankly, I'd almost always prefer to type one-handed than to use a software keyboard. If you've work gloves on, you're going to find it really tough to use a capacitive touchscreen. And, if you work in construction, you're probably strong enough to hold a four pound device out at arms length for extended periods. :)
The innovation that modern tablets brought to the world was not to make mobile computing easy, but to make a mobile computer that's nothing but screen. I don't know your personal history, but if you're an early twenty-something, you're likely to be unaware of much of the very useful portable computing that was done and continues to be done (without modern tablets and smartphones!) by folks who do and manage physical labor for a living.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toughbook-cf-m34_2.jpg
[1] http://static.miklos.ca/docs/panasonic_toughbook_cf-m34.pdf
Some of our customers have been bringing iPads to showings and asking prospective applicants to fill out digital applications on the spot.