Even here, there were some people saying you don't need to know maths to be a data scientist since there are frameworks like Tensorflow.
Anyway, this "cargo cult" method works in some context while it is toxic in some ways.
In certain situation, you just have to use what is available and build something to get somewhere. There is a saying "nothing beats shipping" (or something like that lol). While in some cases, you need to be very well versed in underlying technical details to work on something. Even having a strong mathematical background can greatly help with not just machine learning, but even regular programming as well. This helps to improve your thinking and write efficient and smart code.
I think the industry need both of those people to function.
"Some" - Don't be afraid to quote me or my alter-ego
@Indrajith Gamage.
The fellow "Hasitha" is an idiot. He is another lucky bastard who migrated to Australia and he was shocked found that how poor his skills were.
He failed to grasp what "Cargo cult programming" really is. For example, using Rust to build your personal website is an example of "Cargo cult programming" or using some horrible C code that has memory leaks from Stackoverflow is "Cargo cult programming".
Using abstractions to build something is never was "Cargo cult programming".
Likewise with anything, there are experts/researchers and there are participators. You don't need depth theory to practice something just like you don't need depth theory of Car mechanics to drive a car.
The guy is full of gatekeeping BS and full of jealousy. This is why I hire only Atheists'. Sri Lankan Buddhists always been Nazi and expect you to be superior than others.
People need to learn how to appreciate abstractions or else you will go to madness because world is built on end-less abstractions.
I have enough cash to acquire the startup he works at "

ifferent". I can call my investment banker and arrange a M&A deal with them and fire this idiot. I really want to do this!