[ZenGum]

The temptation to subtly mistrain your replacements must be very strong.

A degree is a good sign, in that it shows you have been able to stick at a project for three (or more) years and complete it, and jump through all the highly specified and often pointless hoops they make you jump through.

And - especially for the nerds and Asbergerish techie types - all that "having fun and drinking beer" is the development of "soft skills" like actually being able to communicate effectively with people. And maybe to recognise that moment when you've had enough.