I have never read anything sensible in sajha by purana kagaz, and this one is also no better. For your information, I have not seen any phd student who has left his wife back home, it's really easy for them to bring their wife to the states. Where as for a greencard holder, the wife must wait for a few years before she is allowed to come here. In most of the cases, phd students end up being either a professor or a post doc. Since they will be working in universities or research centers they are exempted from visa restriction and tend to get greencard immediately.

As for money, I think a restaurant or convenient store owner makes more money. There is no point in comparing a successful undergraduate (making 100K) and unsuccessful phd. In a decent state level research university, an assistant professor teaches no more than 3 courses per year. It's the most cushy job you can think of. Apart from that, if they become successful in research, there is a whole new world.

So, don't be dumb. Several Nepali have a habit of 'sour grapes'--talking about things they don't know and you seem to be one of them. PhD is a tough thing, it is extremely hard to get into relatively top graduate programs, don't try to give an impression that people do it for 'status maintain'.