Yep, it's true. Hand-drafting on paper with an H pencil allowed me to memorize entire sets of construction documents, so that when I paid a visit to the jobsite I didn't need a roll of plans under my arm to answer the contractors' questions.
Hard to say that they "suffered" but to do that to your own kids is abuse. Reminded me of the Paskowitz clan, except they weren't isolated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmhxRVR9dqI
ACAD, not so much.