Why? Existential crisis?

A doctorate in most fields is proof of a degree of general smartness and an ability to work rigorously in the field. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with good judgement, luck, diplomacy, social skills, practical skills, or any of the thousand other things that contribute to success in life.

To do a PhD you have to be smart enough to be able to do one, and dumb enough to actually do one.

In my opinion rather smart and despaired enough to actually do one.

Yes, something like that. At least I am not alone. PhDs are a dime a dozen. Even friends with programming skills can't find jobs...