The data science degrees are essentially a vocational program for the students that would not be successful tackling the CS/math program.

People who major in CS/math are usually great data engineers but terrible data scientists. They don’t understand how to ask questions the right way, experimental design, how to evaluate the evidence. They are often more focused on the technical aspects and lack the domain knowledge. I strongly encourage my students to get a minor in a natural or social science for this reason.

100% agree about the DS degree. I have plans on getting a MS in stats starting in a year or 2. All the DS degrees list that you have to take a programming (Python/R) course and database course. I don't need those.

I want to know WHEN and WHY to use one stats method versus another.

A stats class won’t teach you that either. You probably want to look into a research methods or similar offered by a Sociology department. If you want to see how to apply stats to the real world, social science is your friend.