C# is an example of this cultural change, I think. It's been accruing more TypeScript-y syntax over the years.

Haven't used it, since the 90s.

Because a lot of younger/newer programmers can't use them (pointers), so there's a barrier to entry for the trendy people.

My first semester programming class was C and more than half of the class disappeared before or after the exam. C and Calculus, and the next semester you move from the auditorium to a classroom.

It has definitely established itself as a modern language, in my estimation, though it still has some legacy holdovers. It has many intuitive syntactic sugar options, and, at least today, it offers dynamic typing, which opens up some creative problem-solving possibilities. I don't have terribly strong opinions on the .NET CLR. It works well on Linux, now, which is good, and there are many well-supported libraries for the framework.

Pointers are pretty foundational knowledge, even if you regularly use language with smart memory management. C#, for instance, distinguishes between value types and reference types, which make a lot more sense when you understand pointers. I've found that knowledge pretty helpful on several occasions in my day job.

A lot of programmers don't know how computers work and don't care.

After using PHP and Python, I miss strict typing.

My son is a programmer & built his last two machines from the ground up. Bad programmers you mean. Not real programmers.

Strict typing is superior. This is the way.

At least a cursory low-level understanding is necessary for the craft, in my estimation.

Mine too. 🤝🎯🎯🎯🎯

That's so sad. It should be mandatory to build some Flip flops and implement a clock in 1st semester. A serial to parallel interface and vice versa. Understand memory spaces and addresses. First in theory, then with an soldering iron. Build a computer from discrete components. Something like this. Every electronics technician with an 3 years apprenticeship can do this. FFS they should at minimum program some low-tech robot in C or assembler. Or at least do something with an ATmega or similar.