This is a good thread, with many very valid points.
Another one to consider is that once you valdate (lets say on radar) well, you're there for he next 30-35 years of your life! And aside from moving around from one facility to another, it's really the same thing whereever you go. Don't get me wrong. I'm passionate about my career and love every minute of it, but I didn't start at 17.
So all this to say that it might be nice to spend a few years at the tender age of 18 to 21 or so doing other stuff, be it uni or whatever.