A PhD gives you a lot of freedom (time) to work on something you consider interesting. It's not without other downsides (stressful), but it's a trade-off worth

A PhD gives you a lot of freedom (time) to work on something you consider interesting. It's not without other downsides (stressful), but it's a trade-off worth considering. Also, in Belgium where I'm from (but I believe more broadly, Europe), a PhD gives you slightly inferior wages to a junior position, so you don't lose out as much as in the US.