Semantically aren’t we saying position? It’s closer to an abacus no?

The symbol 0 doesn’t mean anything rather than like it’s etymology it’s the absence of anything.

1__

Is the same as

100

So it’s the position more than anything right?

Depends on the base of the position

1_

Could mean 2 for example

1__

Could mean 4 or 100 for example

11_ as 4 in Gray code :p