I'm not sure it is an awful format for some people, but it sure didn't work for me.

I mean, I ended up implementing most of the problem sets in Python anyway - then had to transpile them into the bizarre undocumented form of pseudocode that was apparently the only thing the instructor and TAs could understand.

Combined with the complete lack of value added by the in-class lectures, compared to just reading the textbook, and the draconian attendance policy, it was far and away the worst class I endured in college. Particularly galling for a subject so central to the course of study and one that had material that could be so interesting if handled differently.