Critique is a common learning method in many other fields, like art, music, design, journalism, and politics. Hand feeding and teaching is fine a dandy at the beginner undergrad level, but you reach a point quickly where you have to rely more on yourself to become better. Criticism starts out from your teachers and peers, and eventually you learn how to be self critical on your own.
But you are right, this isn't for most people; PhDs aren't for everyone.
A) finding a grant-buzzword-friendly research direction
(Green ICT social networking for wireless sensor motes anyone?)
B) politicking to get as many publications squeezed out from one's meagre results as possible (Buddy, submit to the special edition of this journal because I'M the guest editor)
If the advisor doesn't TEACH the student how to navigate the bullshit, the student is hosed.
PhDs aren't for everyone
...I bet including many of the people who actually do them.
This is an extremely cynical point of view. Even if there is some truth to it (especially in Chinese universities), it's not what most of us do with our PhDs. Definitely not most of the google PhDs I know, nor my MSR colleagues. Academic politics isn't the only place to go with a phd.
