Understand that at the time as a young man of maybe 19 or 20 my automotive knowledge was limited to engines, electrical and suspension, maybe, at least the stuff that was more commonly dealt with from a maintenance standpoint. That and a lot of my early cars didn't have slush boxes, either.
I had no grasp whatsoever as to how these "majikal boxes" went about their business, and was summarily amazed and astonished at both their complexity and simplicity. I've rebuilt a few domestic automatics, Ford C-4s and GM THMs, but that was some years ago. Still, they're not terribly difficult to work on as long as you have the proper tools (professional grade snap ring pliers!) and a clean place to do it.
Dan