Programming Language Theory has a public relations problem

Programming Language Theory (PLT) can bewilder those on the outside. It's the Rubik's Cube of abstractions, wrapped in complex topological theorems. Imagine wading into a codebase teeming with hidden layers. Researchers? They prefer to sculpt fresh theorems from raw clay rather than recycling someone else's, which turns familiarization into an uphill slog—much like mastering convoluted software patterns.