char * (*(** foo[][8])())[]
declare foo as array of array 8 of pointer to pointer to function returning pointer to array of pointer to char
char * (*(** foo[][8])())[]
declare foo as array of array 8 of pointer to pointer to function returning pointer to array of pointer to char
If C made us declare foo using the second format you gave, we'd still have to write, e.g., ((foo[12][3])())[7] in the code where we are actually trying to use foo.
Can you look at a declaration in the second format, and compare to where the variable is used, and see quickly if the usage is correct? With the current declaration format, it's easy--because declaration and usage use the same format.