Didn't you just say that education cost now 1/2 of what it used to. Education is mostly human effort(can't be easily automated - although visualisation, CAD tools and internet helps), so it means there is less incentive now for people to educate younger generations because they can make better money doing something else if I understand correctly. What I'm trying to say is that without mesurable education metrics you can't judge if reduction of costs is good or bad.

IMO it's bad - I would prefer teaching but I can make 10x doing CRUD apps :/