It depends. Are you working on web apps or iOS apps? Then most likely no.<p>Are you working on drivers, kernel, and software that is close to the hardware? Then maybe.<p>I've met some extremely incompetent devs with a CS degree. At the same time, I've met some super strong, tech lead level, devs who are self-taught.<p>I think it has more to do with interest. Someone self-taught who is very interested in tech will easily surpass a CS grad who only does it for money. Everything you need to get a CS degree is easily accessible online anyways.
No. A motivated person can find all the comp sci and programming resources for free online. A good mentor can take the place of a professor, even better since professors usually don’t have industry experience or domain expertise.
No. I'm self-taught, so I may be biased, but in my subjective experience all the best programmers I have worked with either had no formal education, or a non-technical education.