> …can't help but notice how sql is coming from the c-Era of programming. Having … more modern ways to express my queries would be great to improve correctness …

SQL is based in pure mathematics: set theory, relational algebra.

The process of applying mathematical rigor to your database design to prove correctness is referred to as normalization.

I don’t mind criticisms like “It’s old, yuck”, but criticisms like “it’s not correct” mean you haven’t studied or applied the mathematical underpinnings of sql.