I think I've never had that issue since I started with C -> C++ -> Java -> JavaScript -> Python -> Scala -> Ruby -> ...

It was always more expensive (performance wise) to be more expressive. And I suppose since the whole community is making that performance compromise, I think it never really effected me.

Meanwhile, in Rust, the majority of the community is looking for the most performant best possible API, and it just seems overwhelming to always try to be a part of that. I'm sure I'll get over it soon. Most likely as the community grows the majority of Rust users will care less about optimal performance.

Actually, I suppose that is what happens to most languages. As the community shifts to users of the language rather than builders of the language, things might seem less overwhelming. Maybe I'm just coming to Rust too soon for ergonomics. For example in Java, there are the people that build the Netty Client / Server and they care very much about performance. Then there are most Java developers who don't really care.