I do not understand some *of* usages.

> 
> * It's more of a sanity check than anything.
> * even more of a hack
> * I'd argue that a course in algorithm design would be of more utility in understanding how most efficient inference schemes boil
>  down.
> 
> 
> 

Why should we use *of* the above examples? Especially, the last one is the most complex example for me. If I remove *of* from the first sentence, the sentence will be awkward, I feel it, but for the last one, I am totally speechless.

By the way, 

Is it legitimate to say:

* It's more *like* a sanity check than anything?