Bodybuilding isn't so much skill as it is will. You gotta be strong in the mind and the truth is 99% of the population aren't strong enough to endure the 24-7 tactics it demands.
Agree 100%.
We all know that it's debatable whether bodybuilding is a true "sport" or not, but one thing that can't be denied is that it takes more mental discipline to execute and gain success in than any other activity I know. All other popular mainstream sports, such as football, basketball, golf, etc, are really just "games" when it all comes down to it. Your genetics determine your skill and they're certainly not 24-hour a day jobs.
It is incredibly difficult for a natural bodybuilder to gain muscle and it takes not just a few years, but decades. You still have to have the mental focus to eat correctly and frequently, to train hard, and to get the proper rest/sleep, and on many occasions, sacrifice your social life and relationships.
It's no easier when on drugs either because the monotony of dieting training and cardio is still there when trying to comete, and although it gets ridiculed on here sometimes, I can see why some people say that drugs really are the icing on the cake, only 10% etc, because without the training and dieting consistency there's nothing.