Amidst all this, we learned the pleasure of learning, of discovering, and of arriving, on our own, at problem-solving.

This is so accurate. I feel that it also goes for physical attributes. I think of those people who have implants to make them look more muscular instead of gaining them through activity. They sadly miss out on the benefits of actually being able to show capable strength. Then there are athletes who have missing limbs and their replacements are superior, giving them an advantage they wouldn't normally have. For them this can't be helped, but what if we did this as a choice and jumped straight to an easier option that working to better ourselves? Would this not take away some challenges and goals that make life worthwhile?

Knowledge no longer mattered, but rather a degree obtained by any means.

I believe this is now coming around full circle as more younger people begin to shun degrees. Also how good are degrees not actually earned by the student in things like the medical system? I'm hearing many more stories of medical incompetence lately and my own experiences with doctors in recent years have been mostly unhelpful. Then if our teachers are not actually earning their own degrees, but still going on to teach, what kind of cycle would we end up in?