> What a delightful fantasy world you live in.

I can really certify that this was my lived experience. In the math degree course, basically everyone who was not incredibly passionate about mathematics (NB: "passionate" does not necessary imply "great academic achievements") changed their major or decided for a different kind of tertiary education.

Former co-students who attended the same university and degree course had the same experience.

I guess the reason was that it was a decent university in a "boring" town where learning for your studies was one of the more exciting things that you could do.