As someone with a STEM degree who enjoyed taking online classes at a CC during their 20s in Art History, I wouldn't call it a waste of time; it's brought me more joy, balance, and a feeling of well-roundedness than I had contributing to os projects.
applied STEM will pay off for the investment. I still take college courses online after my Masters in CS. I really enjoy learning about humanities and arts at a cheaper CC during my free time.
In all seriousness, I agree with you. However, I think some degrees are borderline "hobby-tier" - They're cool, but not very useful outside of personal enjoyment.