[jerf]

I translate your first paragraph to "I have never used Haskell" in my head.

The idea that Haskell is somehow about not doing anything because it can't do state is just silly. It doesn't pass the smell test. People do not write web frameworks or compilers or anything in a language that "can't do anything" because it can't do state.

Haskell is not about "not touching state". That's just objectively wrong. It may not work exactly like you are used to, you may not like the tradeoffs, but Haskell can do things. I know, because I can make it do things.