Comment by aleph_minus_one

> The ones deeply interested in the subject would likely skip college anyway if not for future economic prospects.

There exist a lot of things that are much "easier" or even (currently) only possible to learn by attending a university because, for example,

- for the access to various devices and experts,

- you walk a much more "established" and "time-tested" hike for getting good in the subject,

etc.