There is no exaggeration and in fact You've illustrated my point well in that 69% of class of 2010 have indicated they are majoring in non-engineering majors and in programs of study that can and are found in virtually every liberal arts college in the land. What you call "technical" degrees including chem, econ, math, general science, the Academy includes in their "Division of Math and Science." Aside from info technology and maybe oceanography, all of these programs are taught in virtrually every liberal arts and science college in the nation and are not considered "technical degees." Comp sci is no longer considered as such, altho we could quibble on where that belongs.
And the irony of your point of those 31% who do have undergrad engineering degrees as particularly valuable background for into-the-future shore duties, well the studies are rampant showing that even engineering degree programs are outdated and tecnologically "over the hill" after 18-36 months of graduating. While that may be some overstatement, an equally valid argument may be that indeed humanities and science degrees would be far more valualble looking into the future assignments. Let's not confuse "math and science" with "technical." These are different birds completely, just like having a chemistry, math and econ degrees are sorely different from EE or aero.
And to your point about all things being equal between the aero eng and the history major, the pilot nod goes to the aero eng. You may be correct. However, one could easily argue, as has been done here and elsewhere that the much more likely scenario is the history major with the 3.2 gpa and the aero major with the 2.2. All other things being equal, the nod for the cockpit goes to the history major. Again, the USNA admissions officers have indicated no connection between majors and assignments. Into the future speculation is just that.
Lastly, let me say I'm not arguing for the liberal arts and science majors which well over 2/3 of Mids now pursue in lieu of engineering (what I would consider the "technical" degrees). I'm simply saying, and the stats validate the point, well over half of the Brigade have liberal arts degrees. It would seem what we disagree on may be the definition of that 29% of mids who are in the Division of Mathematics and Science. You call them technical, I call them liberal arts students. While neither of us is, dare I say, "technically" correct, I don't think there's any way an econ or math or chem major can be deemed "technical" and thus better suited to senior assignments into the future. That strikes me as a stretch.