I think that's about taste. It so happens that I find simple writing more elegant as well. It feels to me that if I can't do it simply it means I don't master the subject enough --- indeed that's a theorem taking literally the "I" in the conditional. I've noticed that the people I consider bad writers sometimes criticize my writing for precisely that --- too simple. But I actually think that they enjoyed what they read; in other words, they did not convince me. (Also, because I consider them bad writers or non-writers, it's hard to take seriously what they have to say.)<p>It was cool to read that Paul Graham edits a lot over the days. I do the same. I reserve enough days to put the text off so I can forget it. My observation is that if I still remember the text, when my eyes see the paragraphs, they don't quite read them --- they remember what's there, recovering an illusory version of the paragraphs. When I'm able to forget them, I see them again for what's really there, and then I notice the problems.