[cppsnob]

Staying with the norm worked out quite well for both Java and C#.

[artsrc]

When I learned Java in 1996 I did not already know Haskel, Lisp and Python. Now I do.

[cppsnob]

I learned LISP and Python before Java and C#. The latter two are just as useful nevertheless.

The world's experience outside of HN makes me think Dart will not be at all inhibited by its Java like syntax. If it doesn't catch on, it will be for other reasons.