Java syntax is modelled after CeeLanguage, which is intended to promote programmer portability. Since CeeLanguage was set in 1972, improved syntaxes have been presented.
Better syntax -> greater clarity, fewer lines of code. Fewer lines of code -> less writing, lower initial cost. Greater clarity -> lower maintenance cost. Lower cost -> more value.Look how well Python and C# (CsharpLanguage) have done. Java could do better. As a matter of fact, I think this is a key value that people are ignoring. It is much more important than this castings/cloneable stuff.
Huh? CsharpLanguage also borrows its syntax from C.
See also: IsBreakStatementArchaic, ItsTimeToDumpCeeSyntax