[musicale]

Agreed completely. Well-taught graduate systems courses are fantastic. Additional courses might include computer architecture (though maybe that was your FPGA course), networking, graphics, databases, numerical computation, parallel programming, AI/ML, etc..

The primary advantages, as you note, of taking a formal course are that it is well-structured and you get feedback and support.

Secondary advantages include a potentially positive and motivating learning environment, meeting and interacting with instructors and other students, increasing your portfolio of completed projects, and a potentially useful or beneficial degree or certification.

Overall though I'd say the main advantages come from completing the course projects.

If you have the time and motivation, you can teach yourself from the same material, but that usually requires more time and motivation.

It's a shame that formal and self-directed education are often seen as being in opposition to each other. As a field I think we should support and encourage both.