> I worked on some pretty big projects and did a lot of research. That was easy.
Yes, I remember those days too. It was easy. It was also nothing like PhD research.
> Failing a PhD thesis during the defence is apparently a 'rare occurrence' in most universities.
In the US, most committees won't even let you schedule a defense unless they are prepared to pass you. What usually happens is the "all but dissertation" (ABD) route where one is writing in perpetuity or leaves the program without finishing.
In any case, why do you feel compelled to justify how much (harder?, richer?) your chosen path has been than a categorically different alternative path which you admittedly have no experience with? Please, at least rise above the level of posting misinformation.
Yes, I remember those days too. It was easy. It was also nothing like PhD research.
> Failing a PhD thesis during the defence is apparently a 'rare occurrence' in most universities.
In the US, most committees won't even let you schedule a defense unless they are prepared to pass you. What usually happens is the "all but dissertation" (ABD) route where one is writing in perpetuity or leaves the program without finishing.
In any case, why do you feel compelled to justify how much (harder?, richer?) your chosen path has been than a categorically different alternative path which you admittedly have no experience with? Please, at least rise above the level of posting misinformation.