This is true in engineering too. I’ve seen brand new EEs who have never used an oscilloscope. What are they doing in school?
Ha! In college I had a friend who connected an oscilloscope to the record player. He’d smoke weed and watch the music.
I’ve seen that trend ever since they introduced the computer engineering curriculum. (Not blaming the computer engineering discipline per say but in coincides!) EE departments (STEM departments in general) are desperate to cut costs. Physical lab courses where there’s circuits, basic equipment, etc. is very expensive to maintain. Not only do you have to have a budget for worn out parts\equipment you also have to have money to keep equipment calibrated often that means sending it out. You also have to keep a tech on staff to do the basic maintenance and manage it all. EE departments because of this cost are convincing themselves across the academic fruited plain that they can do all the basic EE labs in simulation. They’ve convinced themselves there will be no loss in education merit. They are wrong! However, that’s the trend and the honest prof will admit it openly, others will deny until a few beers are drank. Some will continue to deny!