So to answer the question: Well, i think if you come with relational database experience which is n-dim - learning string theory first is ... not that stupid. Maybe encouraging people to try this route would be better than forcing them to take the whole curriculum.
Taking discreet numbers as common ground GA provides a stable scaffolding - i think in terms of a finite state machine getting stuff on a screen it's fair to say it's the right tool for that job in this constrained environment.
I also dabbled with scattering amplitudes, but from what i understand so far it's similar to what category theory is in math: Structure before even agreeing on (countable, etc.) sets.
I'm always open for dialog on these and like digging to solid grounds, still i think it makes sense to take a look at the environment then agree on a common ground to build from.
In medicine this can be biochemistry and in computer aided rendering i think OPs "first" principles are not that far off.