> distinct socialization one gets in academia that leaves one rather divorced from the real world

It is absurd claim. Academia is part of real world. It is not an isolated island cut off from everything else.

It is no more divorced from real world then any other group of people. No more divorced then rural farmer are divorced from it, businessmen are divorced from it, sports fans are divorced from it. They are all having limits of understanding other groups.

Tech workers as likely more divorced from average person even.