> automatically-placed bounds checks on array accesses

That's exactly why I get annoyed. How will it be fast if it branches on every access

> where the compiler could 'prove'

The compiler doesn't prove shit. It lets the optimizer do it. It's extremely easy to fool the optimizer

> there any 'systems programming' languages

The ones that don't make false claims (so not v or rust) and don't insert code I don't want