C is not a "layer under the abstraction" for C++, D, or Rust, that's my whole point. These languages can be as low level as C, and their higher level bits are i

C is not a "layer under the abstraction" for C++, D, or Rust, that's my whole point. These languages can be as low level as C, and their higher level bits are implemented as an abstraction layer in the same language. I understand the need for mechanical sympathy. This is not mechanical sympathy. At best, this is _historical_ sympathy.