> Sure, static types have trade offs, but they are a clear improvement on all dimensions over dynamic types

That has not been my experience and I don't think there is much objective proof of this. Most of the (admittedly not great) studies I've seen show dynamic languages as comparing favorably or better in bug counts for example.

Some of the things we're working on in the next version of spec are is head-on the notion of how to define expressive contracts for functions and allow those to meaningfully evolve in compatible ways over time as program requirements change.

I look at FORTRAN as a great language for its domain, so maybe you're right. :)