Maybe getting a degree counters any social shortcomings for most people, its a piece of paper that will get your foot in the door so to speak. It says "I've spent 3-4 years working on this area, have at least half a brain and am committed". So even if you can't speak very well to people (yet) you still have something going for you. If you're self taught, you don't have any of that so you've gotta be pretty good socially and at networking, or just really really lucky. I think being good socially breaks all the rules honestly and is like a superpower, you could probably talk your way into most things with little in the way of real skills.