You're the definition of that statement, Don. You know why self taught devs are the most impressive? It's the real-world skills and experience.

Colleges and universities don't/can't teach that. However, it is rather difficult to get a job without a college because you don't have a degree, but it's not impossible either way.

We're all self-taught even with a degree. A college isn't going to teach you anything. If you learn anything externally without any guidance from college, you're still a self-taught developer.