True, I think technically I got one when I passed my prelims -- they do that so if people end up dropping out before completing their dissertation they have something at least. But what I mean is in the US dedicated Masters programs are largely set up for people in industry to advance their careers and the schools see the program as a way to raise funds.
I don't disagree. When I got my Masters in engineering I had zero plans to continue to a PhD which would have been fairly uncommon where I went to engineering grad school in any case. I did eventually end up with another Masters but, in that case, a PhD would also have been uncommon unless I was on an academia track which I wasn't.
