Reductio ad absurdum: I assume your variable names are single-letter, your Python is indented only one space per block level and every C program is a one-liner? You should check out the Code Golf stackexchange; you'd do well.

Kidding aside, I can appreciate your feeling of OCD (I fight that urge too) but remember that most syntax is for humans, not machines. Using braces communicates intent to the reader; omitting them offers an opportunity to stumble.

Nah, humans go by indentation anyway. Just use whatever brace style you like, but make sure you have a linter / formatter that makes sure your indentation agrees with your braces.

I'm with you on that.

The one line version isn't prone to goto fail, and to me reads very nicely.

    if (x == 1) return;

The two line version, however, I avoid like the plague.

    if (x == 1)
        return;