[whyenot]

But the best part is, this hasn't sunk in yet. So few people understand that the world has gotten to a stage where you can get a university-level education by yourself, based on what you feel like learning, from the comfort of your own home.

But you can't, at least not in the biological sciences, unless your home has an autoclave, ultracentrifuge, laminar flow hood, etc. Same could be said for civil engineering, chemistry, or any other discipline with a lab or field component.

[DennisP]

Suppose there were facilities to rent lab space by the hour?

You'd need some formal training on safety issues but maybe you could get educated a lot more cheaply then with the full university system.

[forgottenpaswrd]

Exactly, or have robots, hydraulic presses, lathes, material, physics and chemical laboratories...

Books are ok, but you need practical experience too, and some things are too expensive to buy yourself, needs to be shared someway.

[helveticaman]

But everyone can afford a computer that is very powerful by historic standards.