Yes, I agree it is a weak thing to be used as a deciding factor. I am talking extreme situations but at the end of the day. The degree is a qualification and if candidate A has one and B doesn't, everything else being identical, A would have the minute advantage.
Yes, all three interviews were with airlines.
You said, the doing one of these courses makes you the jack of all trades, but master of none. The courses involve all the ATPL training and a further knowledge past that. That would mean that anyone who has done one of these degree course would have done exactly the same as anyone who hasn't, plus a lot more.