I consider an ATPL to be the equivalent of a Degree.
Years ago, in the days when having a Degree really meant something, the argument against regarding it as equivalent would have been that it's a practical course rather than an academic course designed to develop and expand intellectual capacity. Now that you can get into a 'university' with a couple of E Grades at A level to study some course which doesn't require intellectual capacity, that argument no longer holds true IMHO.
kms
as easy as passing the atpl exams
Much depends upon whether we have a flair for a subject, in particular whether we are better at Arts or Science subjects.
I've got a law degree from one of the top universities and, while I wouldn't say it was easy, I wouldn't claim it was difficult. That's partly because the selection process was such that those who would have found it difficult would probably not have got into the university, and certainly not into my college, and partly because I've got a flair for law. However, I think I'd find the ATPL exams difficult. Even at school, my grades in maths & science were consistently lower than in other subjects.
Much also depends upon the university. These days, the fact that someone has a Degree doesn't mean much without knowing where it's from - and in what subject. Football? Hair-dressing? Golf Course Management? Leisure Studies?
FL