I would agree and if people think they'll complete a Learn PHP book and then get loads of job offers that's simply not going to happen. You'll still have to put work in to build something that proves you know what you're doing. I don't have a degree but that certainly hasn't stopped me and the bulk of the jobs I've applied for over the last 7 years or so claimed to require a degree. But I've also got over about 12 years of experience and really that's what companies want. They want to know you can do what you claim (and ideally you're not an asshole). A degree is certainly a short cut in the eyes of many to proving you know what you're doing. It is still worth considering getting one but I think only if you're still going to something extra into like have at least one or two side projects that show you're not just going through the academic steps or better yet do some side job freelancing. I think even if you're making shitty little static html sites for people if you're proving you can manage customer relations that will matter a whole lot more than you think. Anti-social competent programmers are a dime a dozen.