> There are two options, and folks tribally cling to one or the other without realizing that both are legitimate and well-suited for different situations.

No I disagree entirely. One is simply better.

> It's a hard thing to learn that way, so for the folks that have done so, it often becomes a point of pride and a shibboleth.

It is not hard. It's not better because it's hard-won knowledge. It's better because it leads to simpler, more elegant code. Simple as.