[tinymollusk]

I tend to agree. I think it's because the field uses statistics, which most people have decided are incomprehensible and don't even try to understand. Combined with how bad our brains are at thinking statistically, and you have a powerful desire-for-avoidance by non statisticians.

Combine with the value that good ones can provide, and you have a perfect situation where a boss or peer just thinks thar be dragons in the work sphere of the statistician.

[thousandautumns]

I think the issue lies in the fact that data science is a massive umbrella term which really covers multiple large fields, namely statistics and computer science, both of which by themselves are massive. Its very difficult if not impossible for people to feel like they have enough expertise in all of the subjects that fall under the umbrella of "data science". Which typically leads to lots of self-teaching, learning on the fly, and hacking solutions together, which is often the source of all impostor syndrome feelings.