When I read arguments that include syntax complaints, I really have a hard time taking anything else the author says seriously. It's like a car buyer critiquing in detail crash safety ratings, gas mileage, steering control, and then for no particular reason going on a rant about the optimal arrangement of cup-holders.
Right, well, I'm referring to the majority of syntax complaints which fall into "I hate braces!" or "Why do the brackets come first and not second?!" Really folks, it doesn't matter. Now, if you had syntax that will result in a massive decrease in efficiency I'm willing to listen. For example, the "function" keyword in Javascript or the lack of implicit typing during assignment in Java are worth talking about, but really at the end of the day they are the least of your problems when considering the limitations of a language.
It does matter to people. They have to read it and type it all day, and as decades of language wars make clear, people care what their code looks like.
