Then the issue becomes determining what abstractions are "necessary". The line is very blurry, and there is plenty of room for a range of reasonable positions o

Then the issue becomes determining what abstractions are "necessary". The line is very blurry, and there is plenty of room for a range of reasonable positions on this matter. While there may be some objective truth about which abstractions really are a net benefit to use, there's no easy way for us to determine it (besides deciding between binary and assembly). So arguing about it is mostly pointless. Leave each to their own preference.