I doubt the curricula of any certification is entirely worthless. You're saying you appreciate their value as a forcing function and as a set of guideposts for what to learn. I'm saying: there have to be cheaper ways of setting up forcing functions, and I know there are better guideposts on what to learn --- they're just not promoted as heavily as the certifications, because nobody (except hiring managers, who are too dumb to realize it) makes any money on them.

I agree completely. There are books that cover the same content in many cases, but not always. I've read quite a few of these books, sometimes they are actually better. I was fortunate enough to take all of my courses for free, but if I was paying $5k out of pocket each time I wouldn't recommend it. I think the norm is to have an employer pay for it.

I know that's true and I find that especially alarming, because it gives those employers a tremendous amount of leverage as gatekeepers to the industry (by underwriting certifications for people they elect to employ and retain).