The idea is that the universe "cheats" by replacing a computationally expensive process (a tree falling, breaking into pieces, being eaten by insects, moss grow

The idea is that the universe "cheats" by replacing a computationally expensive process (a tree falling, breaking into pieces, being eaten by insects, moss growing) with a series of cheaper, "good-enough" replacements, based on the level of scrutiny. Not existing is the cheapest. Then, broad strokes, location and orientation Then pieces, level of decay etc, and moving between the layers is you spending your attention budget to force the universe to do more work.