I agree with the sneak only way to avoid the statues seems silly. Would think once the druids tell you about it either through rescuing the one in the tunnels or otherwise they'd maybe give you an item that would bypass the statues. Like a blessing or trinket or something.
As for the high ground advantage... I've always enter the caves from outside the druid encampment and was the one on the higher ground... I always just stealthed to the one up above and then thunderwaved him down below while picking off the rest of them. Interesting that you've had this entire encounter played out so different.
