"I'm someone who finished a PhD" doesn't help your claims. But I digress. The real question is, why do personal opinions like "xxx is superficial" needs to be

"I'm someone who finished a PhD" doesn't help your claims. But I digress. The real question is, why do personal opinions like "xxx is superficial" needs to be defendable? Is academia somehow a "protected class" of individuals where we need to keep our opinions to ourselves unless we have hard evidence? Or is this a standard you hold against other PhDs? Because the OP stated they quit, so it doesn't really apply. I can totally empathize with the GP's claim that 'Your definition of "unprofessional" is just "this makes us look bad"'. You might not be in academia per se, but it seems to me like you picked up that mode of thinking nonetheless. And no, I didn't keep my opinions to myself despite I have no proof whatsoever. Sue me for unprofessionalism please.