For me, the biggest reason to use a programming language instead of Excel is its capacity for abstraction, and hence ability to organise code and separate conce

For me, the biggest reason to use a programming language instead of Excel is its capacity for abstraction, and hence ability to organise code and separate concerns. Attempting to solve a complex analytical problems in Excel is similar to a doctor trying to solve medical problems by reference only to atoms. Instead doctors use a variety of abstractions: organs, cells, enzyme, etc. to understand and explain a problem. By using a programming language, we can develop appropriate abstractions to solve our problem in a way which keeps a lid on complexity. I think this concept does make sense to an advanced Excel user, and can help explain the situations in which they may reach for a different tool. Having made some very complex Excel spreadsheets in the past, I think was aware it can become very difficult to develop them or generalise them further, even before I became a programmer.