I agree with you here, but I don't agree on downplaying complex numbers to be just a base vector and orthogonal.

If we take a matrix representation of a complex number it is usually done as a 2x2 matrix of very specific structure. I completely agree that it is easier to work with. But looking at them this way misses very important place of them in the grand scheme of things.

Complex numbers are actually what real numbers really ARE under the hood, we just aren't taught to think this way. 'i' is what real numbers miss to be completed. And you don't need 'j's, 'k's and others.

If your point is that introducing 'i' above traditional real numbers syntax is ugly - I completely agree.