If any followers are in a well paying job in a field they enjoy and made to feel inferior because they don't have a PhD I just want to stress to you that expertise comes in many forms, and not having a PhD doesn't mean you can't be an expert in your field. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise.

i have a phd and lack the well paying job part (and so do a lot of my peers w/ doctorates) SO no one should feel bad haha

100%. and yet…many academic institutions won’t allow non-PhD scientists to submit grants.

Do a PhD by publication while working don't put your life on hold for 3-4 years fellas (unless you think it would be a fun break and you're already rich enough to not care about poopy pay)