Not sure it's a straw man argument, but your right. Many academic areas produce mostly papers & graduates. The Graduates pay to be produced.

I think it is. No one said anything for or against scientific knowledge then all of a sudden WHOOSH.

i don't think going WHOOSH as he hit send qualifies it argument as a straw man. Irrelevant at worst. Tangent at best.

What if he had just decided to call you an old bag. Would that be a strawman? It's not implying that you presented not being a bag as an argument.

Haha, that'd just be hilarious.