@ucbalumnus my eldest tore through her $20K 529 with pretty much nothing to show for it AND a $5000 loan which thank goodness in not co-signed by me. THAT was/is a good deal of money to me and no I was not and am still not happy about it. And had she just run off I would be beyond livid honestly.
I have retirement and several other college age children and am in no position to ‘oh well’ $20,000. I feel quite sure I am not remotely alone in that and honestly I do well for myself financially but still geesh.