I swear I remember there being a 3D spreadsheet on the market back in the early '90s(?), but couldn't find it with a quick web search. So I might be confabulating.

That said, you're right that it can be done with modern spreadsheets. It doesn't even require that much finagling:

https://www.pcworld.com/article/439501/how-to-create-3d-work...