The need to “write easily maintainable code that can correctly be understood at first glance” truly is self-evident

And that's just the point. It isn't.

Indeed, any requirement for the content of any technical document to be "understandable at a glance" is completely unjustifiable. At least outside of the classroom.

It is the software equivalent of soldiers wearing red coats with shiny buttons as they go into battle. It was once de rigueur, but long since shown to be detrimental to the primary goals.