It creates list context for the x operator

Nope. The operand of any operator can't set which context the operator itself is in. It does set context for it's operand though. That's what's interesting. Illustration for those that don't know what Roy and I are talking about:

sub context { print defined wantarray ? wantarray ? 'list' : 'scalar' 
+: 'void' }

@foo =  context()  x 1; # "scalar"
@foo = (context()) x 1; # "list"
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ihb