Why is Windows registry so unfriendly?

Why does the Windows registry seem so opaque? I thought a good practice in CS was to give explicit names to variables and constants, but the registry has mysterious names and values.

For example, I tried to change the way windows names new shortcuts, namely to remove the shortcut label that is added at the end of the file name. For, you have to find the links entry (not shortcuts or shortcuts name as one would expect) in the Registry, and then change its default value 1e000000 to 0000000.

Every time I modify the Registry, I am scared that a small mistake would blow my computer. I understand that some modifications of the Registry could deeply affect how my computer behaves. But for simple modifications, why is it so opaque?

Note: Without being an expert, I feel to be above the average user when handling a computer. I use it a lot at work, in particular to write documents (Tex), browse Internet, do a bit of basic programming and formal computations.