If you genuinely think that then either the guy next to you is smarter than you, or is being a dick about what he knows instead of helping you understand.

I think the opposite. The smart people I knew from the old days could manage enormous imperative code bases in their minds and perform feats that seemed impossible to my lesser mortal mind.

Functional style was like a secret weapon I could use to keep up with them even with my lesser mental horsepower.

If the whole point were to seem smarter than others, what would be the point of writing articles inviting people to learn it?

There are people who act that way, yes. (They're not just in FP, unfortunately.)

But the value of FP doesn't depend on everybody using it being a wonderful human being. The value of FP depends on its ability to help you write (and maintain) programs. That value is real, even if some proponents are just wanting to feel smarter than you.

I think it's about gaining a different view of one's craft, a new way of looking at existing problems in a way that potentially provides an advantageous approach. And even if it never pans out professionally, well then, hopefully it's been a fun detour into a new way of thinking.

Wish I could upvote twice.

You are technically incorrect (The best kind of incorrect.)

Imperative is to Functional as Alchemy is to Chemistry.

Are chemists smarter than alchemists?