I did two degrees before flying. I was sponsored for the first and then received a research grant for the second, but I still left with student loans. So I lost six years of flying by spending that time at university, and built up debt which had to be repaid. I have never required either of those academic qualifications for the purposes of earning money. I have also paid for several other flying licences, which I have never needed during my career either. I intend to retire ten years early, so overall, I am now giving up a total of sixteen years of earning big money. Somebody shoot me because I am clearly insane.
There is more to life than career earnings, and there is more to learning and academic qualifications and the experience of university than them just being stepping stones towards a career.