It's a tool, but it's an essential tool. The numbers are measurements and models for how things work. If you don't have numbers, your idea cannot be tested.

__________________
Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"