I feel like we can trace further back from premature optimization and premature generalization to: 1. A fear that it won't be possible to alter the program lat

I feel like we can trace further back from premature optimization and premature generalization to: 1. A fear that it won't be possible to alter the program later based on better use-case information. (Sometimes justified, sometimes not.) 2. Excitement, engagement, and the ego-trip of Making A Cool Solution. Part of the reason I prefer languages with strong static checking is that it makes those kinds of (1) rewrites easier to do.