Indeed, that is why today people simply use MIDI-rolls to make music. Yes, it takes HUGE space if you have to write 12 notes for absolute pitch (vertical distance), especially if you have to print it out.
Shape notes are older than the "standard" notation. You will have a hard time reading 3 octaves of a note, that is at least 2+ x 12 vertical spaces, 24 vertical spaces. It is insane, even if you had to use 12 notehead symbols.
