A pedal steel is a mixture of a Harp and the auto guitar as far as playing technique is concerned. You can play different chords in the same bar position by selecting three strings from the possible ten,(or twelve or fourteen) so this is similar to harp technique- but you can also play an entire scale in one bar position by using pedals and knee levers, and move from one chord to another in the same way.
So with up to fourteen strings (not necessarily in pitch order) four pedals and six knee levers (left, right and up, on each knee) and a volume pedal, they are clearly much easier to play than playing a six string with the fingers of the left hand.
In your dreams!
Cheers
Dave
(non-pedal steel player)