The misconception that all "early optimization" is premature optimization is a dangerous one. I'll agree with you that starting with static type systems is an

The misconception that all "early optimization" is premature optimization is a dangerous one. I'll agree with you that starting with static type systems is an early optimization. But if it's premature or not is clearly context dependent. And it is often "right on time" optimization. Just as are many things engineers like to deride as "premature optimization". It's not premature if it's known to be needed and the cost of doing it later greatly outweighs doing it now.