I sort of agree with you, and had the same experiences, but I think the difference is of scale and expectations. You can bullshit your way through a 1st, 2nd,

I sort of agree with you, and had the same experiences, but I think the difference is of scale and expectations. You can bullshit your way through a 1st, 2nd, maybe even 3rd year humanities essay with layman theories, and get a C+ or even a B-. But they're humoring you - you won't get into grad school with those marks. And you won't be able to actually work in the field without ideas backed by the same academic rigor we expect from the scientists - understanding deeply the work of all your predecessors and contemporaries, and adding your own interpretations not gleamed off twitter. Whereas if you try to join a math or sciences class you with the same attitude, you will just fail. You can barely pass, eek out a computer science degree, or even just drop out without one, then teach yourself all the practical skills, and build a career. I don't know how long that'll last, but it's definitely the case right now.