I think the problem with terse and clear is that, typically, it solves the problem elegantly only in the exact current context in which the code is written. Meaning, as the software progresses, that previous elegant, perfect, concise code is rendered invaluable. In such cases, due to the size of the codebase, it becomes easier/necessary to work around that previously elegant code in the form of if blocks etc... which inevitably leads to crap code.

At least, that is my experience in the world of web-based programming. Scripts and other single-purpose code implementations are another case entirely.