[kenjackson]

I'm not sure I'd say it is more selfless or idealistic, but I do think that college, at least as I see it, serves a very unique purpose.

It's goal is to take great ideas over time and teach those ideas to new students of the field. And computer science as a field is more about the science of computing, than it is about programming. Generally programming is taught as a way to understand different manifestations of computing.

To answer your first question, pursuing a profession in programming doesn't require a CS degree. And it's probably only marginally beneficial to improving the quality of your work in _most_ programming jobs. I do think we can view programming as more of a vocational skill. There will be some jobs that require CS backgrounds, but for the most part it's a lot closer to writing in that there is a suitable job for almost every level of skill.

[BahUnfair]

I would say that learning for the sake of learning is a far more selfish choice than moving into the work force and being a productive member of society. But that isn't going to stop me from choosing learning and maybe putting it into use in the far less selfish application of research. (I do biotechnology)