I think HelloNurse's point was less that a fold is inherently clever or subtle (as you say, it isn't), and more that, if there is something clever or subtle involved, the lesser verbosity of the fold makes it easier to see than would a more familiar, boilerplate-heavy approach in which the clever or subtle point could be lost.

It does if you are unfamiliar to the pattern. It probably has more to do with experience with the patterns used rather than readability.