[s_kanev]

These are all valid points for high-level languages in general. One can add easier parametrization to the list (high-performing HDL code can be terrible to reparametrize).

I was mostly surprised by the choice of a Haskell-based DSL. I think such languages miss their target audience. Most people writing in an HDL are hardware designers without significant software training (I am fortunate to be a software-turned-hardware person). For them making the jump to, f.e. a functional paradigm (as in Bluespec), is much harder compared to a lesser, more popular evil (C/C++ based DSLs like SystemC or AutoESL).