It is worth noting that the material stays online, so you can always learn at your own pace - just without the certificate. I agree that it can be difficult to

It is worth noting that the material stays online, so you can always learn at your own pace - just without the certificate. I agree that it can be difficult to fit to a schedule, but one other advantage is that with a schedule the community taking the course can grow and learn at roughly the same pace, and it can help foster further discussion. Both approaches have their pros and cons.