Yes, you can extend the language with more syntax. This kind of proves my point. If there weren't deficiencies then you wouldn't need to define more syntax, an

Yes, you can extend the language with more syntax. This kind of proves my point. If there weren't deficiencies then you wouldn't need to define more syntax, and so many work-arounds wouldn't have already been created. The deficiencies in SQL are why each big SQL database ends up creating some procedural-SQL language for use in stored procedures and triggers. CTEs are close to what you outline above, but even then (as far as I know) you can't name that CTE and use it across multiple statements.