In the States the degree requirement isn't seen as bs, its just the way it is to get any decent, and possibly well paying job. The degree isn't especially hard to get, but its the closest thing we have to a gate to being 'upper class'. So for those outside of the US the degree requirement might seem like bs, but it isn't in the States and it won't be going away anytime soon for the desirable places to work.
-qf