The reason `and` and `or` are best in parenthesized groups is that it creates confusion in the precedences otherwise. asking someone what `alpha and bravo or charlie` means can be confusing if there's no obvious grouping (like a standard mathematical operator's) giving `and` more precedence than `or` or the other way around.
You actually can use `!.` as an "owns access", as used in `alpha!.bravo`, which means `if alpha ownskey \bravo then alpha.bravo`.
And yes, `?.` means an "existential access", as used in `alpha?.bravo`, turns into `if alpha? then alpha.bravo`.
You can also mix these with `?!.` and it works as expected. :)