Ok.
Thanks for clearing that up.
Newton's gravitational equation is science (engineering).
Newton's aether hypothesis is merely a hypothesis.
Any perceived "flaws" in the aether hypothesis have no impact on the efficacy of Newton's gravitational equation.
HOWevEr, "a primal substrate" would seem to be a pretty good description of what Einstein calls "SPACETIME" (time and space being the same substance and also being a necessary prerequisite for all other substances).
SPACETIME = AETHER