I guess, but with the hiding of the choices within the black box being the significant difference. This pseudo-parser (or just parser? I suppose it is still parsing, after a fashion) stuff might even have appealed to those of today’s players who are allergic to undisguised choice-based games. I know a few of those.
Whatever the case, there is definitely something a little bit magical about it and magic, illusory or not, is always real.