It seems better to change the language so it works like _everyone_ expects it does, rather than become syntax dictators. It's hard enough persuading people to move from C, but when you tell someone that their perfectly unambiguous sytnax is "wrong", they aren't going to be amused.
I don't know why it is so important to convince every C programmers of Haskell. Making a language fit to everyone's taste eventually led to what is today known as Perl.
Ok, a more personal argument. I hate that this language won't allow _me_ to lay out _my_ if's as _I_ want them! Especially as the rest of Haskell lets the programmer choose the best layout, and just keeps hands off. I can be convinced through logical arguments that all the other restrictions/features of Haskell are a good idea, but this one doesn't have a good reason associated with it. Thanks Neil