Really, maybe it's a statement of your health that you never had to find a male PT, but don't discount their contribution to the quality of life for others.
There is a problem now, because the medical guidelines are written so that a PT is very limited in time spent and area covered for any actual hands on work. They almost have to be in private practice and also licensed as massage therapists to do the necessary work.
In our area, the hospitals hire MTs, charge the time out at PT levels, pay the MTs very little and the patient still has to make a co-pay that is more than the going rate locally for a full hour of neuromuscular therapy. The charges from the hospitals are outrageous. Not even the PTs see the full fee charged.
Its good for the private practice medical massage therapists, but it does limit the availability of soft tissue rehab work for the public.
Your personal anecdote is typical of my husband’s clients. IMO, it is just an essential medical modality and as the population not only ages, but keeps working into their 60s and beyond, medical massage will continue to be utilized by more and more and people.