I'm still searching for the blog post I was thinking about; I apologize for not being able to yet locate it.

The statement about doing "real work" is right on the money for why and how this experiential model might transfer into other industries and economic spheres. The aerospace example is rather a wonderful counter-example for those very reasons. But wherever the ragged red edge of the world is (at the border where software is eating it) I think that this model of education and experience will trump existing forms of credentials.