Yo, did you use a fish tape or something for that? Pulling wire by hand in a crawl space is a pain without the right tools. I used a glow rod last time and it made things way easier. You just push it through first, then attach the wire and pull it back. It saves so much time and you don't risk damaging the insulation. Hours of work sounds rough, but with the right method, it can be way faster.
Yeah glow rods are clutch for straight runs. I like a fish tape with a metal tip for tricky spots though, it snags less when you're going around corners in old houses. The flexibility helps a ton if the path isn't perfect.
People get so into their tool preferences, but the REAL struggle is dealing with ancient wiring paths. I've had times where NO tool worked, and I just had to get creative. At the end of the day, it's a battle of wills with the building.