[tantalor]

> removing optional values

Slight correction: optional values are not removed. Quite the opposite; the "optional" keyword is removed because now all fields are optional. It is actually required values which were removed.

[zellyn]

True. But when using them, it feels like every field is "present" and you don't have to worry about the "optional, missing" case.

[tantalor]

For primitives, yes, but not messages.

[honkhonkpants]

You're both right. What has been removed is the concept of presences altogether.