[choosername]

>Ultimately the real value of a degree comes from the networking and signaling ability granted by it,

Absolutely not. The intrinsic value of studies is learned from the studied material, the knowledge. Sure, in relative terms, a research grant allows much deeper insights, and with it the prestige. A student that takes twice as long learns less relative to the time. But first order in the end, applicable knowledge is counting most. The certificates just prove that.