I think there are some good insights to be gleaned from this essay, as with a lot of pg's essays. The perspective of the guy who founded and ran Y Combinator is always an interesting one to hear from.

However for this essay in particular, had I been among the set of draft readers, I would have suggested toning down the “I hadn't realized X until now, so now I think other people haven't realized X either” message.

Back in college I remember noticing choices of “better learning vs better grade” and deliberately choosing the former with a proudly “screw the authorities” attitude. I'm sure plenty of other Tara Ploughmans could say the same.