I found education benefits most in expanding your mind and abilities (of learning, critical thinking, and sharper mind), not so much about the knowledge. Of course knowledge helps but you can pick them up on your own. Education force you to learn some topics that you might never use later but would benefit you in other way anyway. Some people can gain those without a formal education, more power to them. What it means is that the hiring manager can't be lazy to use degree as a filter. Have to really understand the individual's capacity.