When it is done by people, code can be art sometimes. I have no good example immediately available, but I mean there is a huge difference between generated code such as jquery-1.11.2.min.js and code that can be read by humans. By optimized, I mean the lowest time and space complexity during run time. And there are basic and obvious maintenance constraints that everybody should follow like avoiding hardcoded values (unless necessary), keeping it easy to read, avoiding +1000 lines routines if not necessary, ... Regarding debates on comments vs self explanatory variables, I have no opinion on this. Depends on how it's done.

Well, the curent topic might actually be one of the reasons why they just made a law in France forbidding to hide your face in public areas.