This thread quickly became a showcase of the fatuity of arguing with people who begin from a place of ignorance. There is so much wrong with so many things that have been posted in this thread that I'm not going to take the time to address them individually. I also do not want any particular person(s) to feel like I am singling them out. So instead:
1) The OU's degree courses are externally moderated by academics from other universities in the same way that those at most other institutions are, so you can assume a generally comparable level of quality to most other universities. Obviously there are difficulties with resources, which does lead to a more pronounced difference in the sciences, but issues with access to quality practical experience are not unique to the OU.
2) OU graduates are routinely accepted onto postgraduate courses at universities for which admission is typically very competitive. This includes Durham. It also includes both Oxford and Cambridge, though certainly less routinely. You will find that there are quite a number of academics at RG universities who view applications from those with OU degrees favourably because those students have tended to adapt very well to the demands of postgraduate life. This is obviously anecdotal and limited only to the academics I personally know or have had occasion to discuss admissions with, who could be outliers. Whatever the case, you can find OU graduates undertaking postgraduate courses at just about all of our top universities.
3) The OU has a lower absolute rate of graduate employment because it naturally attracts housewives, single mums, those who are retired and people with illnesses and disabilities which impede their ability to access the workplace. I would expect anyone with the benefit of a quality education to not accept statistics without considering what exactly influences their expression.
4) As somebody who has attended several universities and has significant professional experience, much of which has been in positions which required I be involved in recruitment decisions for both SMEs and large corporations, I think that people enormously overestimate the importance of your awarding institution. I can only recall encountering a couple of people who cared at all, and they were only impressed by Oxbridge. Businesses care only about what value you will add to them. If you are very early in your career then a brand name might get you to the interview stage, but that is typically it. Again, I can only speak from experience in the sectors I know but it seems to be in line with what other people report.
5) Some people will think the OU is not a 'real' degree. Some people will think business studies is not a 'real' subject. Some people will hire a young attractive applicant they fancy because they like the way they look. Uninformed and ignorant people make uninformed and ignorant decisions. They are in the minority and you shouldn't plan your life according to their nonsense because you don't want to work for them anyway.
6) There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to studying with the OU. It is not for everyone; it is not always going to be a good option, let alone the best option. It exists to provide access to education for people who desire a different medium of delivery. OU students read books, write essays, take exams, have to navigate the whims of tutors, get frustrated with referencing and most of the various things that other students do. For those of us who have never had any need for the OU, that's fine - hopefully the education received has met their expectations and they are happy. For those of us who have needed to use it, I hope exactly the same thing.
Life is short. Let's try not to spend it insulting each other for the choices we make in our own lives.