One thing I think Arc does (or intends to do) right is to be as cruft-free as possible. That is one thing you need to get functional programming to the masses.

One thing I think Arc does (or intends to do) right is to be as cruft-free as possible. That is one thing you need to get functional programming to the masses. If learning FP means also having to master dotted pairs, associative tables, 13 different object comparison procedures, cadaddadr, the LOOP syntax... then you can count "the masses" right out. Add a good introductory book (the current tutorial looks good; I haven't finished it yet) and you may be onto something.