I always thought things like music theory and biology were harder because it's often words and classifications given to things before they were codified and then when you learn the actual theory it's like "well, this thing is named identically to that other piece of theory over there because we used to think they were the exact same but actually they couldn't be more different". Chemistry can be similar but has a much more rigid structure than music theory and biology.

Physics at least tends to start with math and connects to theory later.

The one I always heard as a failed physicist cum engineer was "rocket science is 80% plumbing"

It's very likely that most people that study rocket engineering can't learn music theory at all. Just like the other way around.

DM: "Fuck."

nah, cm tolerance is still osteo difficulty. brain surgery is tighter tolerances. need steadier hands

Even with rockets, you can test with unmanned launches. You don't really get "practice rounds" like that with brain surgery.

because people won’t die if you get the quantum physics wrong.

Well, not with that attitude!

(Okay, I guess, in pure quantum physics, nobody is going to get hurt by it. But if you venture into applied quantum physics -- quantum engineering -- then you begin to reintroduce the possibility that getting it wrong could cause serious harm in some cases.)

Verbally instructed quantum rocket surgery over a phone call.

If they have a few hours of training I'm sure a brain surgeon, rocket scientist, or quantum scientist could do any of those things. Lots of educated people understand that the narrow focus of their education doesn't make them good at everything else too. Unfortunately not all educated people understand that, though, and it seems like the over-confident ones get a lot more attentive.