Avoid getting hooked on the concept of the virtual MOOC University

In this article about grading the MOOC university A J Jacobs makes the mistake of following the hype of the MOOC providers that claim this is the future of higher ed as we know it. This misses the point that MOOCs are a different, alternative paradigm that will evolve to become the way to acquire the skills and competencies needed for paid work, self employment and day-to-day living in general.

Even AJ acknowledges:

MOOCs provided me with the thrill of relatively painless self-improvement and an easy introduction to heady topics

Starting from a suitably early age why would a person ever need hugely expensive, increasingly overrated higher ed which less than 1% of the world's population can afford?