My only guess is that a watery mix will have the layers settle in
their different sedimentary layers with the fine cement settling to
the bottom...
One reason is that the aggregate can settle to the bottom much too easily, yes. This is called segregation and results in non-cohesiveness of concrete.
Another reason too much water is bad is that it can result in porous concrete, especially at the surface.
"Concrete that is poured too wet will be weak regardless of how it is
cured. Not all of the water that is added to the concrete mix is
necessary for the hydration process. In fact, the amount of water
required to completely hydrate the cement is only about one half to
two thirds of what is usually added at the batch plant or on the job
site. The rest is added strictly to make the mix more workable. Adding
too much water, however, might save work during placement, but it will
also result in very weak, porous concrete, even with proper curing." - source
Excerpt from a good article (read the whole article) describing this problem in good detail:
"When there is too much water in the concrete, there is greater
shrinkage with the possibility for more cracks and reduced compressive
strength. As a general rule, every additional inch of slump decreases
strength by approximately 500 psi. So for example, if you ordered
5-inch slump concrete and received 7½ inches, a mix designed to be
4000 psi would end up being 2500 psi. This represents a serious loss
in strength, especially if you were placing exterior concrete in a
freeze/thaw climate where the standard requirement is 4000 psi for
proper durability." - source
This is often the reason for the slump tests that are done on most large projects. It tests the workability, but also indirectly tests if there is too much water.
