I've always felt that imperative programming is more in line with the way the overwhelming majority of people are exposed to algorithmic instructions; cookbooks, furniture instructions, Lego construction, driving directions, pick-your-own-adventure books, etc. Especially given how piss-poor most mathematics instruction is, unless you happen to be a mathematician and have put in the effort to recast your brain along those lines, it's easier to come to grips with the imperative style vs more mathematically inspired paradigms.