Similarly, open heart surgery should be simple and easy to learn.

I don't mind if theres a learning curve, so long as it is approachable (ie, a language geared for web development shouldnt require a degree in type theory) and, much more importantly, consistent. I don't mind complex tools for a complex job, though.

Having said that, I agree with what he is saying in general. Simple languages lead to cheaper maintenance (and fewer bugs), which is often more important than more powerful (but more complex) features. Of course, if we can have the features without sacrificing simplicity, then all the better. Consistency helps here.