Ramelli's design is unnecessarily elaborate, as he likely understood that gravity would also have been effective (as it is with a Ferris wheel, invented centuries later); but the gearing system allowed Ramelli to display his mathematical prowess.
Ramelli's design is excessively intricate, as he probably understood that gravity would also work (like a Ferris wheel, which was invented centuries later); however, the gear system enabled him to demonstrate his mathematical abilities.