"Linus Arver via GitGitGadget" [off-list ref] writes:
--parse::
A convenience alias for `--only-trailers --only-input
- --unfold`.
+ --unfold`. This makes it easier to only see the trailers coming from the
+ input without influencing them with any command line options or
+ configuration variables, while also making the output machine-friendly with
+ --unfold.
Nicely explained. Without a concise explanation like this, it is
hard to see what the value of the "convenience" alias actually is.