I prefer the encoded version of weather, TAF (Terminal Area Forecast). That makes it easier to visually scan down and see how the weather is forecast to change in the terminal area. (Is it improving? Getting worse? Is there a time when the winds change significantly [meaning a frontal passage is happening]?)

Same for a time sequence of METARs, especially when you cross-compare the METARs to the TAF (to know if the forecast is holding or was blown.)

Visually scanning the encoded text of weather is easier. (The entire NOTAM system is a mess, encoded or not.)

Raw TAF and Raw METAR for BOS below:

  KBOS 141129Z 1412/1518 31018G28KT P6SM SKC
    FM141400 31020G30KT P6SM SKC
    FM150200 34014G26KT P6SM SCT070
    FM151100 01009KT P6SM BKN050
    FM151500 04011G18KT P6SM BKN020

  KBOS 141254Z 29020G31KT 10SM FEW050 M05/M13 A3000 RMK AO2 PK WND 29031/1245 SLP157 T10501133
  KBOS 141154Z 31018G28KT 10SM FEW050 M05/M14 A3000 RMK AO2 PK WND 31030/1125 SLP158 60000 T10501139 10006 21050 53003
  KBOS 141054Z 32017G26KT 10SM FEW060 M05/M15 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND 30028/1020 SLP155 T10501150

Here's Indy's METARs, showing generally good weather with broken clouds, developing into light rain-mist-solid overcast, then heavy rain-mist-overcast, then light rain-mist-broken clouds. (Read from bottom-up.) I'd quickly read that as improving and generally following the TAF (below it), meaning the forecast is probably a good one.

  KIND 141308Z 11013KT 2SM -RA BR BKN006 OVC011 06/04 A2989 RMK AO2 P0002 T00560044 $
  KIND 141254Z 11013KT 1 3/4SM RA BR OVC006 06/04 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP121 P0007 T00560044 $
  KIND 141233Z 11013KT 2SM +RA BR OVC007 05/04 A2989 RMK AO2 P0002 T00500039 $
  KIND 141154Z 11013KT 9SM -RA OVC007 05/04 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP124 P0003 60021 70021 T00500039 10056 20044 55011 $
  KIND 141054Z 09013G22KT 7SM -RA BKN009 BKN055 OVC095 05/03 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP120 P0003 T00500033 $
  KIND 141051Z 10013G22KT 7SM -RA BKN009 BKN021 OVC090 04/03 A2988 RMK AO2 P0003 $

  KIND 141311Z 1413/1518 11013G22KT 2SM -SHRA BR OVC006
    FM141500 13011G21KT P6SM BKN007 OVC015
    FM142200 12011G21KT 5SM -SHRA BR SCT003 OVC009
    FM150300 11013G21KT 2SM SHRA BR OVC006
    FM150700 20012G27KT P6SM OVC009
    FM150900 25010KT P6SM BKN016.