Sure, I agree. Abstract algebra isn’t directly helpful. But: 1. The context is knowing more math than someone who has an undergraduate degree in it, 2. Abstra

Sure, I agree. Abstract algebra isn’t directly helpful. But: 1. The context is knowing more math than someone who has an undergraduate degree in it, 2. Abstract algebra is part of such a degree, and contributes significantly to overall mathematical maturity, and 3. You can avoid some subjects in the short term, but in the long term you can’t progress further without a reasonable mastery of algebra and analysis. Probability theory and linear algebra are heavily used in data science. You won’t be as competitive a candidate for a job if you don’t have a firm grasp of both subjects. At a certain point, linear algebra ceases to be distinct from abstract algebra, and those exercises you were doing become applicable to real world results.