At least in Europe things are a bit more strict.
It is quite different to have spent 5 years doing nothing other than building up engineering knowledge, and just learning a few things to get the job done.
I'm always very weary of companies that tell me I'll earn more money because I have a PhD completely irrelevant to the job I'll be hired to do. It signals that they're valuing the wrong thing, and that doesn't make me want to work there.
Engineers are only those with an university degree from an university acknowledged to actually be teaching engineering.
Then if they want to actually make use of the title, get the credential, which yes requires an yearly contribution.
Finally, in any kind of project where human lives are at stake, the engineer signing for the project has to be validated as such.
I happen to think that our profession is no different from lawyers, doctors, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and so on.
In terms of PE / CENG status its more who you know that what you know :-)
Sorry if I forgot anything, fellow Europeans.
Core tech behind computers is more than just a network protocol that got lucky.
In case you missed it, Robert Metcalfe is an electrical engineer.
Would you disagree if people from the US did not need to pass the bar to call themselves lawyers, or the equivalent for doctors? Is it just because I compared this specific thing from the US in a negative light compared to EU?
The bootcamp style of skilled labour generation is possible simply because of the demand-supply gap.
You can't learn and practice surgery yourself. On the other hand, you can teach yourself software engineering. You can be practitioner with nothing more than a computer - and so many people are.
That doesn't mean CS degrees are a hoax - it just means the field is more accessible to those without college degrees (though its definitely going to be a more difficult path).