Mia Donna I admire your idealism, but the ATPL exams are about ticking boxes. They are simply a coarse filter to prevent just anyone getting a licence. There is no need to go deeper into the science of the topics while studying for the exams - indeed, I'd advise against it. The ATPL syllabus uses an abridged, simplified approach to the various subjects that can fall apart under detailed study. They have to be, to be examinable in the way that they are.
If you wish tolearn in greater depth about some or all of the ATPL subjects, do it after you've done the exams. As you will discover, much of the syllabus will be dumped once you get into actually flying aeroplanes. Some bits you will, in the natural course of things, learn more about - and you'll learn the truth, not the ATPL version!
The fact that most airline pilots could not hold a discussion with a ground school student about the ATPL topics is that, in many subjects, they would neither recognise the science nor would they use that knowledge - their brains have been emptied and refilled with genuinely useful stuff!
Don't lose sleep over it, just get through it.
Scroggs