i dont see reason for not using "while" but i can see reason the why of coding style. different coding style, different purpose. i == 0 is readable (for right handed person like me) but prone to semantic error which is a nightmare. 0 == i can avoid that but its less readable. so pick your purpose, easy to debug code, or easy to read. if we know the reason, then we can be carefull and appreciate the rational when something goes upside down.
There are performant languages that don't use pointers. I'm not sure what you mean when you say "brackets"
brackets is the [] when you try to address memory individually. i mean which is much fun typing..... a[0], a[i+1]... or *a, a++ ?. if you can enlighten me which languange other than c/c++ (or pointers capable language) that can intelligently use native machine opcode of incremental memory access, then you may have more credible claim. i mean, which languange can produce better/faster asm/machine opcode for the following code of C/C++...
int *ptr = &myArr[0], count = 2000000000;
for (int i = 0; i++; i < count) *ptr++ = 0;
or simply code another language with least amount of letters. external function call is a cheat, you should know why.
I wasn't bathed in pointers when I started programming, and therefore I don't see a need for them. I truly don't. I wasn't bathed in religion when I was young, either, and now I view pretty much all religion as huge wastes of time.
all you need is the will of learning new things, to be introduced and the rational behind it told to you, prejudice aside and away. once you know what and why, then you are in position of arguing of what is better or not. i agree its difficult to argue whats right and wrong since we have lack of knowledge, only the less wise people think they know all
but then how you are going to argue if you are not told the rationale? or the truth content about it?
i know i'm the "fixed" type person myself i resist to enter the world of "managed" language found in C# VB# hash hash thing, but i have reason for not doing so... most modern program and modern language is no better or faster, only prettier, not able to be independent without net, silverlight, the "java run in all machine" distribution or what not. just like a very good looking human, but less independent and perform poorly in bed. i stick to who perform best in bed, even not so good looking
keyword... functionality... beside, i can manage my own code/class/object if i want it to be prettier, thats how its done in "managed language" anyway, just behind the screen modern programmers just take it for granted and swear how prettier their app in one single line of code.