As a typical optimizer, I was always trying to reduce my source code a few more bytes or speed up my processes a few nanaseconds here and there. I was so proud

As a typical optimizer, I was always trying to reduce my source code a few more bytes or speed up my processes a few nanaseconds here and there. I was so proud of myself. Until I tried to maintain my own slickness. There's a fine line between clever and practical. Why do I have a gut feeling that this approach is way over that line?