8-bit variants of BASIC introduced a generation of programmers (often kids/teenagers) to fundamental programming concepts - variables, loops, conditionals - and

8-bit variants of BASIC introduced a generation of programmers (often kids/teenagers) to fundamental programming concepts - variables, loops, conditionals - and allowed them to easily experiment with early computer graphics and audio. The benefits of this initial learning/experimentation vastly outweighed any bad habits picked up or 'unlearning' required.