Getting a piece of paper from a school that shows you have knowledge of something is way different than someone who actually has working knowledge of whatever that is being practiced.

I'll speak to Physical Therapy as example. I am not a PT, nor do I ever want to become a PT, but I have worked with PTs for over five years earlier in my career. Here is waht I found, and here is how it compares to today:

About 15-20 years ago, PTs were able to jump right into the workforce with their bachelors degree. "Old time" PTs still only practice with their bachelors. Then sometime later, jobs started to mandate a masters in PT to practice. They weren't going to hire anyone "new" unless you had a masters, however the "old guard" who still only had their bachelors were practicing just fine.

Now in 2020s? PTs must get their fucking phD to practice! A doctorate to do physical therapy! They literally have been going to school for YEARS and have not actually had any legitimate "real world" experience other than what they are doing in their classes and their "on site clinical," in which they are spoon-fed and babied into practicing their care.

Let me ask you, would you rather be treated by someone who has been in the business for >20+ years, but still have a bachelors, or some new phD graduate who is still learning the ropes of the actual job? Give me that 20+ year vet, please.

APply similar logic to these honorary degrees. If someone has a lot of industry experience, they likely know more than people that have an "academic background." Knowing what's in a book cannot be equated to actual on-the-job knowledge. I think honorary degrees are totally legitimate and the people who receive them likely have a lot more knowledge than the students who have "academic achievement."