Perhaps it allows you to work closely with other researchers in your field. Also note that PhD students usually don't pay tuition.
> Most people can perform perfectly valid research from their bedroom or garage.
This seems pretty unfunded. Unless you mean most people who have already done a PhD.
You do not have to be member of academia to interact with other researches.
》This seems pretty unfunded. Unless you mean most people who have already done a PhD.
My experience is from astronomy and cryptography. You can make good contribution without being part of academia. Data are freely available on internet. Also code.
First I talked about data analysis and software development.
Secondly, even in observational astronomy, anyone can make proposal and get observing time on large instrument. Or rent 20" in Chile and use it remotely.
I’m taking you at your word that you have experience with astronomy research. But that makes it impossible to take you at your word when you appear to lack the imagination to come up with observational astronomy you can’t do without institutional support.
Privately founded research instruments are different topic.
LIGO data are here: https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/ligo-data
Xray data are also publicly available, I would suggest skyview https://skyview.gsfc.nasa.gov/current/cgi/query.pl
Requests for Arecibo telescope are here: https://www.naic.edu/ao/scientist-user-portal/proposal-submi...
And his/her point is that hobbyists aren't a replacement for a class of professional scientists.
It's great that it's your hobby, but to made consistent advances there needs to be a credentialed class of scientists who spend their lives funding and creating the tools and techniques you use for your hobby.