[Ericson2314]

Other languages were deemed too big, especially in 2003 when Nix was started. Nix is a strict diet. Perhaps something else could be used, but I can assure you Nixpkgs would be a completely failed experiment drowning in its own complexity if there were side effects.

Also, I don't understand how people can say the semantics is fine but the syntax is challenging. Syntax is entirely superficial. And if you are having trouble reading the syntax, how can you be sure the semantics isn't challenging?

There are a lot of funny fixed points used in Nixpkgs and that is challenging to think about.