The only context I ever understood this in was "macro" scale: it doesn't matter which choice of first language 1,000 students make, as long as there is some div

The only context I ever understood this in was "macro" scale: it doesn't matter which choice of first language 1,000 students make, as long as there is some diversity. That way the national programming economy has a mix. I think people privileged to start in a LISP or FP in general have the advantages. I started in imperative FORTRAN in the 70s and it affected my future models massively. I often think "the road not taken".