I think this is worth noting - especially in the UK, where PhDs are 3-4 years on top of a 3-4 year undergraduate. I think this shorter PhD length means that the

I think this is worth noting - especially in the UK, where PhDs are 3-4 years on top of a 3-4 year undergraduate. I think this shorter PhD length means that there's less opportunity to be exploited as cheap labour, and more opportunity to finish up and leave while you're still young if you ultimately decide that academia isn't for you, as a lot of people I know are. I might not stay in academia, but I won't regret doing it -- I enjoyed the challenge, the people, and doing my little bit for science. I can imagine being a bit more bitter if I was still doing my PhD a few more years down the line.