You make a good point about readability. I find if I can't pronounce it, I don't understand the code. Saying code out loud can help me tell if it's correct.
I LOVE the hideous monstrosity that is the loop macro. You can pry that hugger from my cold dead face. Warts are the new beauty mark.
But for loop haters, there's the iterate package which I've heard is more lispy.