And neither is a controversial take, especially for most technologists. Even those who love learning for its own sake will probably find it fulfilling to learn

And neither is a controversial take, especially for most technologists. Even those who love learning for its own sake will probably find it fulfilling to learn on the job provided they can get a job in a research-oriented company in the niche that interests them, and earning six figures a year instead of paying nearly as much for the privilege of doing menial labor in a doctoral program is certainly attractive. I have no hate for PhDs or aspiring ones, but I can't relate to someone who would brush past either of those two arguments you cited without some very strong counterarguments on how they will work out supporting themselves and paying back those enormous loans.