[mquander]

I think that sounds like probably a big component. I do know what you mean -- something about the words "linked list" seems complicated, even though there's nothing much simpler than an actual linked list.

I wonder if people who would freeze at a question about reversing a linked list could answer that and similar questions if they were turned into "word problems" somehow; e.g. evilduck in another comment compared it to reversing the order of charms on a bracelet. Although I can't think of any examples that doesn't sound terribly contrived.