Academics spend a lot of time on the internet defending their poor decision of going into academia, as well as anyone who points out how obviously fruitless academia is.
For most people it's nearly impossible to admit something they just dedicated a large portion of their life too was completely worthless.
(standard disclaimer statement that of course there are exceptions to the trend.)
Sure if your only goal is to make money...I am a CS PhD and at least in this area, believe it or not, I really haven't met many academics who regretted their choices.
And your statement is something academics have shown empirically :) (I just find it slightly amusing, no point really) I think the most famous instance was that story about the cult whose prediction about the end didn't come true, and they ended up being even more convinced and made up all kinds of excuses instead of quitting (the cult).
For most people it's nearly impossible to admit something they just dedicated a large portion of their life too was completely worthless.
(standard disclaimer statement that of course there are exceptions to the trend.)