Indeed it is, and a great blessing it is too.
The nearestObject trick was the workaround: I can't remember exactly what you do but basically you place a unit right next to the gate, figure out the type of the gate (look in the mission.sqm) apply a nearestOBject of that type to the unit. That enables you to grab the gate and then you can have your evil way with it.
However, if it is pre-placed on the map you can't make it go away anyway. You can setDammage 1 but that's all.