Design: Simplicity vs. Complexity

There is certainly a place for the block diagram in the design process. That place is near the beginning, where all of the required functions are decided and the data flow is determined. That would include all of a machine functions and operations. First the requirements must be determined, THEN it is possible to create the detailed circuitry to enable and provide the functions. At that point the block diagram is no longer the important drawing. Until, of course, it is time to write the service manual. Been there, done that, (many times), and it works well.