Readability is important. Maintainability (and by corollary readability) is PARAMOUNT. Post mentioned most programming is string manipulation. Well even more

Readability is important. Maintainability (and by corollary readability) is PARAMOUNT. Post mentioned most programming is string manipulation. Well even more code must be maintained. It is the #2 tool feature / programmer skill. (#1 is being able to get shit done and thus create something needing maintenance).