linuxmemes

This, to me, seems like the standardization vs optimization argument. So much of the tech world could be optimized like crazy, but the more complex it gets, the hard it is to communicate with others and keep things consistent. This complexity actually hinders production overall. Standardization, even if it's not the most optimized, allows us to create vastly more complex and reliable systems because we can ensure we are all on the same page. Even if that standardization isn't the best way to do it. I mean, if you want to talk about absolute control over your code, why don't you write in assembly? Are all programming languages not virtually assembly with training wheels?

Writing in code that is not memory safe is going to mean you are substantially more likely to have mistakes that lead both to user annoyance and straight up security vulnerabilities. Having applications written in a memory safe languages, especially when worked on by large swaths of people, is absolutely the best route. It provides a secure standard way to write memory safe code. This will reduce security vulnerabilities, decrease program crashes, and allow for more efficient developers.

Changing a bike tire is something for a single person, maybe two at most. Writing code is often a team effort. And the more people that are involved, the more likely mistakes are going to happen. People absolutely can still learn the complexities, and still choose to use Rust because honestly, it's the smart thing to do. And it doesn't need to be rust. Any memory safe language would accomplish the same goal.

Yes, writing safe code is a skill. But for most skills you need someone to teach you. My suggestion is, think about it differently:

The compiler isn't training wheels, but rather a senior dev, that quickly looks over your shoulder and tells you, hey you might have missed something here. You can at any point tell them, trust me bro for this part. They need at some points a comment in the form of lifetime annotations. They are pretty good, but not perfect.

To pick up your example. They don't tell you, you need a new wheel. They tell you, you're bike has disc brakes, but your new wheel is missing the disk. When you later hit a wall, because you couldn't break, you can check where you just said trust me.