If you can get hundred years experience in 24 hours by wall clock, why not use it? Maybe it's better to teach AIs to create simplified, but usable models, they can use to simulate and train on.
I believe there's a connotation with problems, that if the best algorithm to solve it is exponential (brute-force search), then we truly don't understand the (underlying structure of the) problem.
I have a feeling that it is not possible to reduce algorithmic complexity of finding optimal solutions in most of the intellectual tasks (those that are in NP complexity class and above).
Most likely it is a trade-off. Quickly cobble up suboptimal strategy / build better strategy from scratch avoiding all time-saving benefits of using known parts, and avoiding all the pitfalls of not reevaluating utility of those parts in the current situation.
AIs surely will need to use all the spectrum to compete with humans.