I think I see the opposite - a Game of Life logic gate is way harder to understand than just a symbol representing the logic itself. And I see most logic gate transistor implementations as much simpler and so easier.

It's a funny coincidence, the game of life computer reminded me of the human computer they built in the book "Three Body Problem", and your comment uses the term "grok" from the book "Stranger in a Strange Land", two scifi books I read recently.