[mikeash]

It's a bad gut reaction to have for a newer programmer who is struggling to find any solution to the problem at hand.

[kruczek]

So, if I understand your point correctly, you mean that newer programmers, who are struggling to find any solution at all, would go for the (subjectively) easier one, i.e. the one with f1() outside of the loop?

I agree they would go for the easier one, but I don't understand why they would perceive the first version to be easier. And even if they would, why is it bad?