I often want to describe some sort of exact operation based upon exact numbers, and code is a good way of doing this. Obviously, providing input to the computer in program form does not preclude real-time display, and this is essential for things like 3D modelling. You wouldn't just "sketch" an object in your text editor with no visual reference. Fortunately, a lot of tools cater to that use case -- Blender lets you define scenes and animations as Python code (and when you mouse over something in the UI it tells you the Python function that implements that button!), and there are some CAD packages that let you describe your object as a computer program. (Unfortunately, I tried these and didn't like them. I do like Fusion 360's sketch-and-extrude model, but didn't like OpenSCAD's model. What I want to do is draw the rough shape of something to get a template, then turn that into code that I can edit to put in exact constraints and dimensions.)
I am also looking for a text-based schematic capture application if anyone has any suggestions. I would much prefer typing the names of the edges of my netlist graph to pointing and clicking them.
As it turns out, the written word has some genuine advantages over other media? But on that point, the wall of text you see in published prose is an artifact of the printing press -- prior to that it was unusual to have long texts that didn't include little sketches, diagrams, illustrations...