Yes the onboard UI's block/row/column system is rather overcomplicated. In general the feature most commonly used is "move block to another spot". This should be a process that looks like this:
- Go to "Arrange blocks" page.
- Select the block you want to move with nav keys or big knob.
- Click Enter to pick it up.
- Use nav keys/big knob to move it where you want.
- Click Enter to drop it in place.
- If there is something else already in that spot either replace it or swap their positions. The current functionality of swap is perhaps better because you don't lose that block's settings.
Rows vs columns could work like that too and having separate functions for moving back/forward/up/down is just bad design, no questions about it. It's a "this is how it's easiest to do in terms of programming" feature rather than "this is how it is easiest for the user to operate".
Axe-Edit is massively better for these tasks so it's not a big issue since I expect majority of users build their grid layout in Axe-Edit and then just do tweaks to the block settings from onboard UI when needed.
For next gen Axe-Fx it might be better for Fractal to just abandon the front panel UI in favor of having robust computer, phone and tablet editors. Just have some knobs for input/output levels on the front panel and plenty of I/O in the back like it has right now. Axe-Edit is a great software.