Sir SuziQ has a PhD in Statistics, but still jokes that a lot of kids would be better off if their parents gave them the money that would have been spent on a college degree and let them learn a trade and start their own businesses! When my brother (he's 20) decided to start his own sandwich shop and had to take out a business loan and all that, my Dad joked that even if he completely fails, he will learn as much or more about running a business as he would have through college, and it'll be cheaper. ;-) Sounds like about what your husband was saying!
Your Dad is absolutely right!! And kudos to your brother! How did the folks in your office like the sandwiches, by the way?