You’re sort of saying that’s because your thesis had no value to begin with, because it’s mainly a teaching exercise. I’m not saying that it doesn’t have value by the way, I’m sure it was good, that’s just my read of your post.
It’s an interesting subject. Makes me want to vibe code a PhD generator just like in the tweet. Maybe I will.
I think they were saying the "largest" output was the training, which I agree with. But it's also the case that they nudge forwards thinking in various areas through the outputs of the research process, whether that's papers, talks or the thesis itself.
They are saying that the value of most PhDs was in the learning the student got in the process, not in the PhD itself. Groundbreaking PhDs exist, but they are far, far, from the norm or expectation. Exceptional people doing exceptional work will always exist.
> your thesis had no value to begin with, because it’s mainly a teaching exercise
And that’s the problem in your understanding. Thinking that a teaching exercise has no value while OP was saying that IS the value. It’s missing the forest for the trees. The point of homework isn’t to solve the problems. I bet you the teacher assigning the homework already knows the answers. Just like the point of a marathon isn’t to travel 26 miles because you could just take a bus.