Arts said:

I don’t know why having a PhD qualifies anyone for anything outside the specialist knowledge of their PhD. Or why possessing one makes everyone think you are that much smarter in general.

All it shows is that you have enough stamina and stubbornness to dedicate a period of time to learn how to write enough words in just the right way to make examiners happy.

and maybe it gets you a tenured role at a tertiary institution. shrug…

But why must you climb the greasy pole?

Because it is there!