Not to mention the fact its not dealt with in high school as a compulsory credit (where all the knowledge, physical, and beaureaucratic resources are provided rather than the private hell the system has become) is suggestive of how big a scam and an intentionally weaponized social determinant it is.

It is actually quite difficult and hard to ensure one can successfully move through it once you have to pay for everything and you're "on your own" procedurally. You may never actually get yourself out of that infinite loop and it severely limits consequent job and economic outcomes that feeds right back in to that compunding the stickiness of the entire state.