The analogy doesn't scale because additional years of fast-food work don't add anything to your prospects. On the other hand, additional years of software devel

The analogy doesn't scale because additional years of fast-food work don't add anything to your prospects. On the other hand, additional years of software development add a lot to your employability so the value of getting your first job is much higher. Once you have several years of experience, the lack of a 4-year degree is far less harmful to your employability.