My buddy is an accomplished self taught violin maker. He won an award and was talking to another renowned violin maker who asked him where he was taught. He was slightly embarrassed to say he was self taught but she was quite impressed and said "Ahh! The slow way!"

It's never too late to get one. I had classes with a 90 year old woman who was getting hers.

Experience matters a lot in practice, but having a degree gives you opportunity to learn fundamentals and to have a broader knowledge base in general. Met a few people without formal education with insane knowledge and skills but absolutely helpless outside of their area of expertise.

Meh, I got my bachelor's, worked, and then got my graduate degree, and still had to work my way up from nothing as well.

I see degrees as a way of improving your cap on the position you can hold.