I totally agree - the article misses this point in a very conspicuous way. It suggests that Alice and Bob will both graduate at the same level.
What may well happen instead is that Bob publishes two papers. He then outcompetes Alice based on the insistence that others have on "publish or perish". Alice becomes unemployed and struggles, having been pushed out.
The person who puts the time and effort in doesn't just sit at the same level and they don't both just find decent employment. Competition happens and the authentic learning is considered a waste of time, which leads to real and often life threatening consequences (like being homeless after being unable to find employment).
What may well happen instead is that Bob publishes two papers. He then outcompetes Alice based on the insistence that others have on "publish or perish". Alice becomes unemployed and struggles, having been pushed out.
The person who puts the time and effort in doesn't just sit at the same level and they don't both just find decent employment. Competition happens and the authentic learning is considered a waste of time, which leads to real and often life threatening consequences (like being homeless after being unable to find employment).