> it is like C in that you can fit the whole language in your head.

Sure, you can fit all of C in your head, including all the obscure footguns that can lead to UB: https://gist.github.com/Earnestly/7c903f481ff9d29a3dd1

And other fun things like aliasing rules and type punning.

Yeah, I think people find C appealing because it feels like you can fit the whole language in your head. I’ve yet to meet someone who has actually accomplished this in practice