I just wanted to point out the logical gymnastics you just performed here: I find it true, thus it is true universally.

Your initial premise: "I find that literature that requires work does not provide more food or insight into the human condition..."

Your conclusion from this premise: "If complexity is not what makes the work valuable, what purpose does it serve?"

And you answer your own question with a cynical take: "I posit that for some people complexity for the sake of complexity _is_ the appeal."

This makes me want to kick myself for reading Hacker News to be illuminated about the arts.

Still, I love user lermontov!