I agree self-learning/armchair is not the same, it’s not necessarily inferior, but it is very different and you don’t engage in the kind of ancillary activities

I agree self-learning/armchair is not the same, it’s not necessarily inferior, but it is very different and you don’t engage in the kind of ancillary activities you would in a program. And yes the TA/Adjunct professor situation in the US is terrible. The original purpose of adjuncts were to evaluate academics for future positions, find the right fit for your department. Today those future positions aren’t there in most cases they are just cheap labor.