A thesis? Shoot me if I ever suggest it.
My tutor today, whilst looking over my work, tolf me she thought I'd be back soon to do a Master's degree as I was "already thinking at that level". I refrained from voicing my true feeling on that thought.
As to it's being a con trick, I couldn't agree more.
In order to be a classroom teacher, I'm required to do masters level research work. Why? I'm never going to do any in reality.....not while the drugs keep working anyway. This is in preference to us learning more about day-to-day practical teaching. We're lucky to be studying this year. Next year it'll cost people three times as much and the practical part of the course is being slashed. Many of the lecturers are uncomfortable that lessons such as maths, science and english will be reduced in college by (if I've got my figure straight) at least 50% in favour of more theoretical stuff.
My training, originally, I was a very practical computer programmer and I certainly struggle to see the point of the hoops I'm being made to jump through.