The random three-letter variable names are only used in the kernel, and they're meant to only be used in code that's small/simple enough that they're warranted. In my opinion, we use too many of them, and I've been converting many of them to longer, more descriptive names. The rule that "punctuation is syntax, text is content" is useful, and it becomes very natural with a bit of practice.

Hoon is very much not designed to be apparently usable, it is designed to be actually usable. Personally, I find it to be one of the most usable languages I've ever used.