Completely agreed that it’s not a golden ticket, it’s only useful if it’s a benchmark to entry kind of degree. You’re not walking in to a hedge fund without one and zero experience unless you have connections. Degree and zero experience will work. Uni also helps build connections and foster independence (read: when hiring I don’t want to hire a child, I want an adult with opinions).

Also the cost can be mitigated, e.g. go study in Scotland and return even more independent and free thinking.

Masters and PhD though IMO are purely if you’re passionate about something that can’t be learnt on the job and have time/money to burn.