I couldn't get hired to do my job as a government employee because I don't have at least a masters. Luckily the way my contract works, it didn't matter.
I enjoy being the person in my family who dropped out of college. It short circuits a lot of degree based bragging, because I have a couple of people with phds working for me.
Just grab it and try it out, I wasn't trying to discourage you. Lots of small shop gear sounds great, but has some asthetic issues. Lots going on with that case...