Yes to both Hoops' and ktnatalk's posts - the enlisted route is the "over the river, and through the woods" route with a lot greater potential for diversions and roadblocks and unforeseen consequences, most of it related to the needs of the Navy. Their comments related to the relative directness of a route to a commission.
Enlisting is never "lesser." It's just different. Officers cannot do their jobs without the support and technical know-how of their enlisted team, whether junior or senior, and enlisted cannot do their jobs without the leadership and direction of their officers, whether junior or senior. When it works right, and it often does, this partnership is a powerful engine of mission accomplishment. And fun to boot!
I am still in touch with many current and former enlisted with whom I served, invited as speakers at their retirements, or to commission them, or to attend their CPO ceremonies. One of the absolute best was when a Navy LT came up to me at USNA I-Day, reminded me I had coached her for her officer interview for the BOOST program that sent her to USD for her degree and commission. Her little brother was entering as a plebe.
As a junior officer, I was properly raised and quietly mentored by the chief petty officers who worked for me, and was continually impressed by the energy, initiative and creativity of the most junior sailors.