except there's nothing like the rigour of a good PhD to teach you good methods, stats and epistemology. Not all do that, but there are many people out there whose code, research and generaly understanding woudl be much better had they studied for a PhD.
Now, of course it's not necessary that these learnings have to come through a PhD, but few people pick up good research habits without one. And that includes masters students who at least in some fields definitely get Research-lite levels of understanding from the teaching given.
