The "orthogonal core" is not only of interest to the language implementer, it is what determines the suitability of the language for the particular task. To use

The "orthogonal core" is not only of interest to the language implementer, it is what determines the suitability of the language for the particular task. To use your analogy of harmonic analysis, a complete basis is not only useful as a method of representation, but also a method by which to ease the process of calculation. Regardless, I think the post is postulating that a large, overcomplete "basis" is the new beauty de jour.