You make very good points. The simple fact is that claiming you can transition from being uneducated to educated in any field or in general in a few months watching youtube videos is absurd. People who claim such a thing is possible are claiming something on the scale of an educational space elevator.
There are however alternatives to traditional college that are effective. One example is EDeeU Education (https://edeeu.education). There you can study with people like Clemens Ley (https://edeeu.education/director/clemensley) an Oxford PhD in theoretical computer science and now blockchain entrepreneur. You work through a detailed curriculum over a number of years. It's not the same as traditional college, but for people who are working or have a family and might want more flexibility of schedule, it's a good thing to look at.
There are however alternatives to traditional college that are effective. One example is EDeeU Education (https://edeeu.education). There you can study with people like Clemens Ley (https://edeeu.education/director/clemensley) an Oxford PhD in theoretical computer science and now blockchain entrepreneur. You work through a detailed curriculum over a number of years. It's not the same as traditional college, but for people who are working or have a family and might want more flexibility of schedule, it's a good thing to look at.