For what it's worth, I didn't think you were doing it on purpose - your post doesn't have the use-fancy-words-to-get-a-good-grade vibe one sometimes encounters on the 'net from people whose writing has been warped by the education system.

French writers have a similar problem of accidentally sounding too formal: many French word have a direct equivalent (cognate) that is more formal (e.g. "mortal" instead of "deadly" though in that case there's also a subtle change of meaning).

I didn't find your style to be difficult to read. The quoted sentence is fine and in no way fancy. I review and write academic papers all the time so I know bad prose when I see it.