I kind of wonder if these kinds of arguments are really: "I didn't go to college, and I turned out fine". I personally think: #1 college pushes you to learn

I kind of wonder if these kinds of arguments are really: "I didn't go to college, and I turned out fine". I personally think: #1 college pushes you to learn theory in a sort of "code coverage" for your brain. The tech doesn't really matter (outdated or soon so) #2 industry is practice, practice, practice. many sufficiently motivated folks can start off with #2 and fill in the #1 stuff, but I don't know if they bother. Also, people who do #1 require #2 or face becoming almost worthlessly outdated. "self-taught" from the start or not, lifelong learning is required by everyone to be decent.