throwaway_pKmOh

This received a lot more interest than I anticipated. Thanks for all the comments! I read them all even if I don't respond.

That's some dedication! Many people in this comments section have worked really hard on a degree while juggling real life. I'll have to think about it.

I didn't say that I wanted to master all of those fields. I was just picking examples of topics that I think are interesting.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

> There's a big risk here of liking the idea of something more than something itself.

It's a good point. Worth noting that my degree was not in CS, but in another engineering discipline.

> If your current career is not the one you want, you're paying a "very high" opportunity cost by not changing it. [...] To be kept in mind that taking a 3 years break for work, for education, especially in the early 30s, does no harm to the career.

Also a good point. My friends are buying homes and settling down, and part of me feels that I should just stop worrying and do the same. Missing out on my current salary and going back to a student lifestyle would sting a little.

Part of it is vanity. Part of it is the feeling that I'll have to defend my lack of credentials for the rest of my career, and that it's ultimately going to hold me back. And maybe part of it is the idea that there are some things I'll never properly learn without taking significant time off work to do focused study.

But more than a few commenters here are saying that demonstrating ability is more important than pedigree. Perhaps I just need to get over the mental hump of obsessing over credentials.