geography doesn't matter*

* ... in an "underground" map...

One of the (main) "lessons" of this Design Classic is a little bit counter-intuitive (being a map, and all): doing away with a (previously deemed) fundamental (?) aspect of the intrisic design -- in this case, true, accurate, geography -- can have a beneficial effect in the overall, resulting, evolved, design.

That was the key insight that set Harry Beck's London Underground map above & apart.