You see, you already post yourself two controversies. You say that education and degree is important, and also say that there are those who did not have a degree, but due to hard work they get experience and knowledge. As if you can skip school, from the start start gaining experience (which is more valuable today) and everything will be all right. This is just a confirmation, that education without experience is only useless theory.
Knowledge in school is theoretical, but if the theories are well understood, they can be applied to real-life situations. This is an aspect of education that many people overlook. Everyone who functions in society has some level of education; without it, no one can function in society.
The challenge is that education is always limited to university knowledge, so people disregard other forms of education. However, a businessman will only excel in a business that he is knowledgeable about, and how did he acquire that knowledge? Certainly through education, though it may not be formal.
The tech professional is also educated, albeit outside of school settings; however, regardless of where the knowledge comes from, it is education. I am yet to meet someone who does something without some form of education (training) in that area.