Please don't take my comment as "you ruined my motivation for further education"; it was meant as "you saved me the trouble of finding out the hard way that this really wasn't what I wanted".
I have never been interested in being a professor, so I would be in it entirely to push my limits. But if I know I won't enjoy it (and as far as Ph.D. programs and publication go hand-in-hand, I know I wouldn't), then is it really worthwhile? That isn't to say I wouldn't emerge a stronger person at the end, but I would rather find ways to push myself intellectually that I will enjoy. I believe they're out there.
You could always attend a more relaxed PhD program outside of the first tier schools. These are still great schools and won't exactly be easier, but the pressure dynamics are a bit different and you'll have more time to experiment.
I really enjoyed my PhD experience; I had time to explore who I was and was able to accomplish what I wanted to. It wasn't so much of as a useless grind as it was a journey to enlightment, but my experience is unique.
Please don't take my comment as "you ruined my motivation for further education"; it was meant as "you saved me the trouble of finding out the hard way that this really wasn't what I wanted".
I have never been interested in being a professor, so I would be in it entirely to push my limits. But if I know I won't enjoy it (and as far as Ph.D. programs and publication go hand-in-hand, I know I wouldn't), then is it really worthwhile? That isn't to say I wouldn't emerge a stronger person at the end, but I would rather find ways to push myself intellectually that I will enjoy. I believe they're out there.
Edit: I just read a post about your book at http://blog.regehr.org/archives/743 which you might be interested in.