How about "are basically just ordinary people like you and me"?

Is this the kind of thing you are looking for?

caterpillar, are you an English speaker? I feel you misunderstand the phrase "kochen auch nur mit Wasser" - it doesn't mean "that's all they do all day long" but "they use water for boiling things, nothing fancy such as asses milk or champagne."
So to me the phrase means they're not exalted people, despite being eminent scientists. If you see what I mean. Their skills are not belittled, only de-mystified.

(I am a German native speaker)

Es bedeutet ja, dass sie auch nur Menschen sind.

"crafty people"
I think you have got your knickers twisted here.

Crafty people would mean they are sly or wily, and that is not the intention here.

Suche in allen Foren: Wasser+kochen
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