I think that this basically says the obvious: that the rest of the article also needs some rewriting and reorganizing. I think that if you believed that the previous lead gave a clear description of evolution for the layperson, you are sadly mistaken. I could probably  find quite a few editors who would agree with me as well on this point. It is fine to get technical and fancy, but do it in the body. The lead should tell you what the article is about. Most people will read no farther. It should not include every bit of detail and minutae possible. If another section needs to be written so the reader understands the basics, then write one and include it. If the history section clogs it up too much, spin it off into a separate article. What you had before did not explain things for you. It was an awful mess, to be frank.