Extra typing always makes anything more complex.

By definition.

More typing - more reading - longer parsing.

Even if it's insignificant by your opinion - it's still more, not less.

As for "more understandable" - it's totally a matter of habit.

For me - it's another way around.

Especially when it comes to multi-layer DT's.

But if to ingnore our personal preferences - the query written using DT is simpler than the same query written using CTE.

😎