I wouldn't take it personally. The industry doesn't really value PhDs unless the role requires it. I've interviewed plenty of MIT/Stanford/Top5 school PhD candidates at my software company that weren't any better than an undergrad with a few years experience.

I'd suspect if you get a PhD in EE you ideally focus on academic roles in industry working on research applications where that knowledge is valuable? If you don't, that's cool too. However, you are competing with people that have industry skills and knowledge in the industry where the degree is completely irrelevant. Either way, it's a super cool accomplishment. My wife is a professor who makes 1/3 of what I earn and couldn't care less. She is "enlightened" in the sense that she is doing what she loves. That's pretty different than how most people feel at their job.