How has not having a degree worked out for you?

I have a Diploma of Technology in Mechanical Engineering Technology (Mechanical Design), which is only a two year program which I completed as a mature student in 2000. I have since made a couple of attempts at completing an undergraduate engineering degree, but both of these were ultimately unsuccessful. It would appear that I simply don't function well in the academic environment, and perhaps consequent to being GenX, have great inherent disdain for any exercise in jumping through hoops, which course assignments typically comprise. Nevertheless, I have managed to distinguish myself in the actual working environment to substantial acclaim, and having drawn upon some of the advanced education which I cannot claim formal credit for, have advanced in my career as a technologist to now find myself working in some advanced areas of practice which are unsupported by my formal education, with a documented history of workplace successes. I now hold formal designations as Applied Science Technologist (AScT) and Professional Technologist - Engineering (P.Tech.(Eng.)), and as recently as five months ago, resigned from my last full time role (eleven years at my last employer) in order to strike out on my own as an engineering technology consultant specializing in industrial control and automation. I am probably not yet billing the equivalent of my former full-time employee salary, but I'm not starving, and the increased autonomy of self-employment is more than worth the difference. I still often wish that I had completed the degree - I run in highly educated circles and am an outlier in that respect. I don't really fit in socially with the blue collar demographic, and so am usually the least educated and least privileged member of the company I tend to keep. I am also certain that there have been potential opportunities denied to me as a result of not having earned a degree. One specific example that comes to mind is when I briefly considered a military career many years ago. Having a degree or not essentially dictated whether one could enter as an officer candidate or be constrained to enlisted occupations, which informed my decision to remain in civilian employment. That said, I currently face uncertainty with my volume of consulting contracts and may end up having to revert to a full time employed role somewhere. In what little job searching I have done it is apparent that most roles commensurate with my skills and demonstrated experience still have an expectation of a degree, so a depressed salary may be ultimately unavoidable (looking at job postings for technologists). I'll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I have managed to find a practice niche that I will either be able to continue to exploit, or find a good employment fit to, but it will take time. Again, consequent to being GenX, I am both adaptable and resilient. Hard times can be unpleasant, but I have no doubt of my ability to weather them. My income doesn't define me.