I thought the same thing when I first saw this comment, but I realized it isn't right.
A PhD gives you the opportunity to get both a broad overview of a field, as well as delving deeply into some subarea. It will greatly enhance your technical skills and ability to think. Even if you don't plan to have a research career, learning how to do research will be very helpful.
A PhD is a very worthwhile if you don't have anything better to do and if you have the motivation to actually do it.
(Granted, if you are going to dick around for 5 years on a grad student stipend, don't waste your time.)
The motivation bit is the most important part. PhD's can be very grinding and most PhD's I know seriously considered throwing in the towel at least once during it. If you don't really really want it, chances are you'll never complete it.
I disagree with the notion that asking for advice somehow shows he "doesn't have what it takes" to do either. If he's looking for someone else to tell him what to do then that's a problem, but if he's seeking information and perspective from people who have experienced what he is embarking on, that's common sense.
