PhDs are valued by idiot politicians, low bar
Here's Daniel Lemire dunking on PhDs: https://x.com/lemire/status/2082851447499088173
Lemire in part claims:
"For social reasons, it is highly uncommon for people to fail the oral defense of their thesis. Some people are just terrible at it, naturally. They cannot think well on their feet. They get confused and answer the wrong question."
The fraction of your 1% with the credentials to be on the panel just hands them out regardless as a consolation prize.
Who is gonna be able to challenge them. Except on the whole being 1 of billions like everyone else.
It's social status moat chasing.