> universities can't keep charing exorbitant fees to give out a piece of irrelevant paper
You've completely misunderstood the point of university and the piece of paper. The reasons to go to University ranked:
1. To signal to employers that you are the type of person who can solve difficult challenges with minimal oversight
2. To build your network
3. To learn
4. Social events
The piece of paper is far from irrelevant, it's your signal to employers that you're a successful person. MOOCs and bootcamps can't replace that. Employers don't like apprenticeships because once they're over the employees leave for greener pastures. Even if they confirm you're self trained via leetcode or whatever they still can't be sure that you're able to do the other stuff that a job entails.
You've completely misunderstood the point of university and the piece of paper. The reasons to go to University ranked:
1. To signal to employers that you are the type of person who can solve difficult challenges with minimal oversight
2. To build your network
3. To learn
4. Social events
The piece of paper is far from irrelevant, it's your signal to employers that you're a successful person. MOOCs and bootcamps can't replace that. Employers don't like apprenticeships because once they're over the employees leave for greener pastures. Even if they confirm you're self trained via leetcode or whatever they still can't be sure that you're able to do the other stuff that a job entails.