The quantum part does matter in the sense that certain kinds of "maths" are not directly accessible in a classical computer. You can sort of simulate Shor's alg

The quantum part does matter in the sense that certain kinds of "maths" are not directly accessible in a classical computer. You can sort of simulate Shor's algorithm on a classical computer but you cannot get the same low complexity. Of course, whether the quantum computer uses substrate A or B doesn't matter (other than practically). The only way I ever found an access to understanding quantum computing is by doing the math, as other pop-sci explanations don't really reflect what is happening (at least for me).