A quality educator will be able to convey all the important information with either tool.
..whereas sliding ones finger along rows and columns on a table provides a deep intrinsic understanding of the underlying principles and mathematics?
Hardly, but at least learning to use tables reinforces the issue of residual nitrogen and multiple dive planning. As for actual diving, tables are pretty much useless compared to computers. Ironically, tables are still included in the advanced nitrox and decompression procedures course material.