[Wobbles42]

I don't like cheating, but honestly I find your behavior hard to judge.

The reality, to me, seems to be that universities sell credentials with learning as a sort of sideshow or window dressing.

I've met a lot of excellent engineers who didn't have degrees. I have met a lot of terrible ones who did. I can tell you which group has an easier time getting hired... and I don't think I am focusing on edge cases. The system is broken.

So do whatever you have to to get that permission slip to work from the education-industrial complex. By all means, please learn your trade as well, but let's not pretend like "knowledge" is what you are paying six figures for at a university. Knowledge is available for free. It's certification that costs as much as a house.