Yes! There is a point. Who reads code? And when? And why?

My counter is that White Fang is 271 pages and that White Fang, the Dick and Jane Version (DJV) will run over 1300 pages.

Another counter: Would you really prefer DJV over White Fang for pleasure? Something that is pleasurable is apt to be done well.

I suspect that the DJV will have more instances of the word $lantern to lead me astray when I look for the problem.

I picked that sample to express the limit of some cognitive ability skill of mine. The slicing puts it up there right on or just past my limit. ( Without the slicing it is a no-op.)

I do understand how code needs to be readable by its audience/maintainers. If I were running a crew of programmers, I would consider this a subtle issue.

If I can understand White Fang as well as I can understand DJV, then I don't see any point in your argument. I understand you to be arguing for simplicity. I am pushing for literacy or fluency. I don't see them as opposed. I see this as a skill-level issue, greater fluency makes more things simple.

Be well.