(disclaimer: I can't answer this with authority) The reasons I get excited: * speed: faster compilation * research: interesting code introspection you can't

(disclaimer: I can't answer this with authority) The reasons I get excited: * speed: faster compilation * research: interesting code introspection you can't get from GCC. * proof of concept: if you can build the linux kernel, you can probably build almost any C project * edit: as mentioned in other comments, competition is good.