Sometimes it's not all about what you "want to do", you don't want to do a trade for life fine, but if it gets you to your dream job without debt (like the poster suggests) maybe it's worth it. Life will always have sacrifices whether you choose them (like taking a trade to avoid debt) or it will hand you them (like $80k in debt and no job).

I spent a couple years of part-time jobs and 3 years full-time in a career that wasn't my "forever" path but it paid to get me where I am today. Happy to be in my dream job, which required a Masters. It pays well, I love my work, it supports a mortgage, kids, retirement etc... And those years don't seem so long in retrospect. 

Rick didn't say get a trade, he said get a trade to pay for your PhD. It's a solid strategy.