..don't use the world "paleolithic".

Actually no; prime numbers in decimal are still prime numbers when converted into into a different numbering system. The "prime" rule transcends representation. So actually what we are talking about IS an intrinsic property of the number and does NOT depend of the system used to represent it. You can think of it as being a naturally occurring phenomenon of whole numbers. Just as pi is a naturally occurring ratio between circle circumference and diameter, regardless of how it is expressed numerically.