I've heard that your typical BSEE can't draw two 3 phase transformers
connected in Delta Wye configuration. They learn a lot of DC and network
theory and junk like that, but couldn't connect a conveyor belt to the
mains to save their lives. Is this true?

Probably. The BSEE curriculum is divided into specialties, with the
majority focusing on computer architecture, not electrical network
architecture. It's been that way for decades now. Your expectation is
sort of like asking a cardiologist to perform brain surgery.