Even on the top answer on one of your own links: "In spite of what this all sounds like, I'm not suggesting that functional programming is necessarily easier"

Even on the top answer on one of your own links: "In spite of what this all sounds like, I'm not suggesting that functional programming is necessarily easier" My experience is that of a TA and a tutor. Granted, it's hard to find people who aren't tainted by imperative programming thinking these days, unless you're starting on the true ground floor, which I admittedly rarely do.