Maybe they should fix their websites and refund / cancellation policies. No one would mind booking directly from a hotel website if they offered the same price, convenience and guarantees that booking does.
It can be worth it if you use your time wisely. Think about a good topic for a final project and start working on it. Taking the time to do a large scale project and gain experience can definitely make a difference. I know that my final project had a lot to do with me getting hired in a different industry, so it can be really useful for that. Also, if you ever need to emigrate to a country with a more restrictive visa system, having a MSc. can be a factor.
See if you can work part-time (in the industry, web development or something that's still programming, but not necessarily your desired area) while enrolled. Then you don't take that much of a hit for starting your career later and you still get the benefits of having the degree. You don't have to maximize your test scores, focus on the final project and your work and put in just enough effort to pass.
Yes, but for most codecs, bitrate is variable. For the parts where the higher frequencies are present the codec is free to bump up the bitrate and it can also scale it down for silent parts or parts with low frequencies only.
What ever happened to making the place attractive so people actually choose to live there ?
You are talking about forcing people into situations that they are unhappy with, like it's normal or ethical.
The people who pay for the infrastructure and services are free to leave to more attractive places when they feel like they are being exploited. It's the city's responsibility to manage itself in a way that keeps residents satisfied. If the residents feel like they are getting the short end of the stick, they are right to leave and many will do so. Then you are left with those who had no choice and good luck getting them to fund your bloated, inefficient and needless projects.
The policy makers are in charge of just that, making policy. The residents have little control over that, but they do control where they live.
It's harder to tell the difference when recorded (although it's not that hard). The bigger problem is around what it feels like to play. Even the best modelers do not have the "feel" of a tube amp and that will influence the way you play.