> C is in an odd position right now to argue it is how the machine is really working

This is exactly what makes it great for teaching. Students don’t need to know actual arch or hardware details. They just need to grasp the core concepts of what is happening on the hardware.

For that purpose the ideal teaching language is lower level than python, javascript, Ocaml, etc without diving into nitty gritty arch specifics.

C is the undisputed champion in that domain.