[cwt]

I don't know that you understand the true value in patterns. Take for instance this series of numbers. 1,1,2,3,5,8... I bet you can look at it and say hey I recognize that pattern, 13 will come next because its the fibonacci sequence. Immediately, you can look at 5 and 8 add them together and know what comes next. You don't have to confirm the math that lead up to 5 or 8. You know because you understand the patter.

Patterns in software mean the same thing. If I can recognize the pattern through reading code, UML, or by being told with jargon, I am going to save time and energy.

I am going to assume you are not a musician or music theorist or something along those lines. Mainly because music is patterns.

MENSA describes intelligence as the ability to recognize patterns. (Couldn't find my source on this.)

But lastly, GOF didn't tell people that their patterns are a means to an end, they are a starting place.