Don’t get me wrong being a gender studies major or something without a clear career path to a well paying job when you leave college is stupid but there is a college version of every trade that does cooler shit and gets paid far more. Why fix planes or cars when you could design them if you have the means to go to college? Obviously not everyone can afford a 4 year college degree but if you can it’s a no brainer.
I think "cool" here is subjective, and aptitude aside, not everyone can [design|fix] things, because then who will [fix|design] them?
I think a lot of people like the hands-on aspect over, say, math, and/or the fact that their job is done when they punch out - they don't have the responsibility that a PE or PM does. Go to work, turn wrench, come home, drink beer, repeat.
