This is the old "syntax does not matter" claim. Syntax is not the most important thing in the world when it comes to programming languages, but it does matter too. I was using perl, then PHP then ruby. There is no comparison here; ruby beats the other two languages hands down. I get to be able to do more, with less syntax and it is easier to read too (provided you write good code; you can write horrible code in any language of course).

Most of the languages that are created anew, end up being a clone of C or C++. Go is one of the few exceptions here; Rust is not an exception. It is basically C++ really, from the syntax - or even worse.

Sadly it is not possible to try to convince people who claim that syntax does not matter, that it does matter. They just keep on repeating that syntax is irrelevant. I don't think syntax it is irrelevant at all. It has to do with efficiency of expression. Clear thoughts. Clear design. It is all inter-connected.