I must admit I responded with tongue in cheek, but yes, Donaldson's readers revel in the arcane, hence his popularity and awards for his writing.
His readers undoubtedly feel a sense of superiority over those who fail to appreciate his language. Some would call this a form of snobbery (which it is) but it is also human nature.

I get the Journal of American Folklore, primarily because I want to use their archive, but I have to admit that I seldom read the articles. Your remarks about the paper on the (a)etiology of illiteracy could apply to much in these articles.

I haven't read Donaldson's books, but that is because I prefer other subject matter. Perhaps I would bog down too- dunno.

Digression- I am reminded (my mind wanders) of the response to the first sections of "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. They have much on 14th c. religion and monasticism, a complex subject foreign but to a few. Once asked why he prefaced a good tale with that he jokingly replied that it was a penance to be performed before proceding.