I was an exception to what regehr said in at least one regard: my public speaking improved pretty dramatically while working toward a coursework-only MS. I don'

I was an exception to what regehr said in at least one regard: my public speaking improved pretty dramatically while working toward a coursework-only MS. I don't think it was anything more complicated than just needing to hit a lifetime threshold of presenting in front of people some number of times. The rest seems pretty valid, although at this stage, I doubt if there's any well-founded way to determine whether a given degree will prove to be worthwhile in a purely financial sense, if there ever was. With rising costs it's probably just somewhat less likely...