[tmotwu]

X86 was designed way back even before pre-9/11, so "now" is not any different from the past. We all know the rep X86 gets for poor documentation - poor design in general. Claiming that older ISA's were better documented and easier to understand will not get you very far.

Most if not all top computer science / computer engineering programs in the states teach digital logic design, x86 / x86-64, computer architecture, compilers, communication networks in very fundamental detail as required courses. The emphasis is still there.