I agree. Poor programmers write convoluted messes. Poor but smart programmers write over-complex code. Smart programmers write simple elegant code. A good language is one that make it easier to write simple elegant code.

But I am not convinced that a manager, I am not one myself, would see that the benefit of non-mainstream languages out weigh the costs. Will they be able to find smart programmers willing to maintain the code? Will these smart programmers cost too much? Will they be able to find anyone with experience with a particular non-mainstream language?