I think there are a number of careers for which some further education is a pre-requisite. If you want to be a rocket scientist, for instance, then years of experience in the forces or wherever is not necessarily going to compensate for a lack of degree-level education in science and/or engineering. This is not about who's going to earn the most money. It's about making the most of yourself and what you're good at. This is probably too sensible for the muppet show, sorry...