I think it helps a lot to try to understand the universe from an engineering perspective, thus by posing the question "How would I build a universe?" The apparent obvious answer is : as an N dimensional matrix where each cell executes some code.

With such a setup, effects like gravity, are more probable to be emergent effects.

Another consideration is that in such a setup the only thing that matters is the state of the matrix, in other words there is no time, just iterations.

So my 2 cents are: gravity should be explained as an emergent phenomenon, and time should be removed from all equations that try to explain the underlying fabric of reality.