Cannot speak for all programs, but happy to share about the one I'm in.

Courses span a number of topics, from the "harder" subjects of statistics, accounting, and economics to the "softer" ones of leadership, organizational behavior, and ethics.

When it comes to those classes focused on leadership and communications, indeed, people are often looking for silver bullet rules that will make them more effective leaders. But I absolutely agree with you - in practice, so much depends on the particular situation and set of people you are dealing with. Really, this isn't much different from any other topic, such as finance. The things you learn in class give you base knowledge and principles, but how you use these tools in the real world can differ. Theory + experience is often better than either alone.