There we go. Im glad you have crystallized your view. As a physicist, I am obliged to present a state of affairs to you.
I can posit a theory here. You are right that physics tends to impart the best tools to become a quant. But this preparation is useful only when you are actually working in a job or on coursework in QF. What physics will patently NOT do is prep you to enter or exit such an assignment. My impression is that recruiters discovered physicists in the late 70s and caught a 'lucky' break. But as the demand and supply have reached steady state in the 2000s, and more and more applications pour in, they have no reasonable or logical way of testing an physics applicant. Rather than have some innovative vision to track down talent, they cling to antiquated metrics like the GRE, time logged in brand-name houses like the Ivies or big banks, how well can you juggle pointers and standard libraries in
C++ while tapdancing naked on a tightrope atop a skyscraper. The programs admitting students are playing it super-safe too. What is the point of admitting candidates already well versed in the curriculum. Isn't that the point of going to school? To learn something you DONT know? But I suppose it helps massage and pamper placement statistics reinforcing the endless feedback loop of nepotism.
I feel Im on the verge of totally disillusioning you, but if you aren't truly passionate about High Energy Physics (the acceptable name for the colloquial 'particle physics'), that must be the only reason you pursue it. If you want to enjoy physics but with the ultimate intention of leading a lucrative life as a quant afterwards, I suggest you pick a subfield that relies a lot more on computation these days. Computational Relativity and Astrophysics come to mind, as does Quantum Computing. There are large data sets, loads of different analysis techniques and enough programming and calculus to kill a small elephant. All of these will expose you to fantastic notions of science and you will pick up valuable skills to be an effective quant. While astrophysics will probably not get you a job off the bat, anything computational still has tons of job exit strategies. Not to mention, Condensed Matter, Laser and Semiconductor physics is booming right now. Graphene is about to hit the big time and people are ready to fund the panties off it. The more experimental the better. It's important to be able to have a filler tech job in case you are caught in no-mans land before your first quant gig (school OR job). While you are in grad school, you can learn high energy physics from the best of the best (I say this because only the best in High Energy find tenure). But you will have a sensible roadmap. By the time you are done, you will have satisfied your curiosity of being at the pinnacle of human science and have a ton of places seeking you out as a physicist, if not a quant.