I think it is still important to point out the difference between a cortical column learning to recognize a complex object like a word on its own, versus understanding the meaning of that word. For example, it is well established that there are regions of the neocortex responsible for understanding language (damage those areas, and language is significantly impacted).
I can’t speak for others, but personally I think that hierarchy is still at play for learning very complex abstractions, even while accepting that a single cortical column may be a lot more capable than it has traditionally been viewed. In any case, I am always on the lookout for folks in this community who are experimenting with hierarchy.