I'll save space, since you've covered my points nicely. I've taken apart a scanning electron microscope, built a transistor from scratch (with vacuum deposition

I'll save space, since you've covered my points nicely. I've taken apart a scanning electron microscope, built a transistor from scratch (with vacuum deposition and self-built masks), phase locked lasers, fully solved the hydrogen atom from first principles, and met tons of awesome people I'd never have had the nerve to meet otherwise. College opens doors. It's as simple as that; no guarantees other than it surely helps. Some can be self taught and build their own doors, but the rest of us mortals don't want to wait two decades to be allowed to do engineering work. I'd rather play with toys _today_.