A book in my school library, on the Fischer/Spassky 1972 match, uses descriptive. It really was a pain to read, but I suppose that is just because of my infamiliarity with it. I don't think either "Fischer played an uncharacteristic first move, P-QB4." or "Fischer played an uncharacteristic first move, c4". is easier to understand than "Fischer decided to play the English."
No, you are correct, it is a pain. I learned using descriptive, and I didn't like then and I don't like it now.
With algebriac, you need a legend on the board. With descriptive, you don't need it.
The king is an emperor, queen is a dame, bishops know cardinals and friars, any knight should be bold and gallant, and rooks are houses and architecture. Another way is to memorize the location of one of the kingside files and use that as a reference. As to the ranks when you have Black, you already know them from recording your opponent's move in DN.