What I love about being a scientist, even in our credentialist society:

Spending much of my time just pondering, asking questions, deducing, observing, learning new things.

What I dislike about being a scientist in a credentialist society:

No one gives a shit so I get no money because "the government funds public goods," and I don't live off the government dole, nor do I have an official higher level degree, nor do I have an income to speak of because again, degree worship.