You are absolutely right. From what I have seen most people that grind it out long enough to get multiple degrees and PHDs have no interest in digging ditches or throwing a new roof on a house, and the people tough enough to enjoy that kind of physical work have no real interest in investing the...
So, I guess you're the guy that is going to toughen this girl up and show her what it's like in the real world? You don't get a PHD by slacking off. Be nice, and if that's hard for you, try not to be such a dbag when someone else is trying to help someone out. Sorry you had a bad day, man.