The average line pilot/check airman knows about as much about the hiring process as my dog. They will regurgitate rumors that they have heard. HR keeps a lock on that stuff for liability reasons.
Heck, here at Trailways, the guys that do interviews on the hiring team don't even know when we will be hiring.
Anybody who tells you anything other than what is listed in black and white online or told face to face to someone by HR is guessing.
I think a more accurate statement would be "Delta places a premium on formal education. The better you have performed, the more likely you are to get an interview."