Amen to that.
College, IMO, should be for teaching you things that are difficult to learn on your own. I don’t want my brain surgeon to learn via how-to books. Similarly for the person who designs the bridges I drive over.
OTOH, I see no need for actors to have any sort of degree. And if you want some appreciation for the arts, 99% of it can be acquired, as you say, through libraries and museums. The only exception I might make is that I suspect some music education could be relevant. But I think that is better taught at a conservatory than a university. (I’m willing to hear other arguments by those more knowledgeable.)
I have a heavy duty tech education, with virtually no liberal arts. Yet I know more about the arts than most people with an arts degree. I’d be willing to take on most of our liberal arts educated congress critters in a liberal arts competition. I bet I could beat 0vomit, the “constitutional scholar” in a test on the Constitution. (And history is one of my weakest subject, having never taken a history class after completing the mandatory minimum in high school.)
I’m self taught in a lot of areas, but really, I intend to go to trade school and earn some certificates and enjoy a long stretch of university for hands on experience in medicine.
The one thing I do appreciate is knowing enough before you plunge in. Business and other non-technical/medical stuff should be something pursued via a certificate program, not taught by someone who only understands theories.