The fact that huge number of people couldnt get past the syntax is why I liked efforts such as Dylan:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_(programming_language)

A bit better. Then, the approach closest to mine of mixing 3GL syntax with LISP was Julia language. It was femtolisp underneath with a syntax more like a traditional language. You get the power without the ugliness. Dylan I havent seen in a long time but Julia is taking off. Look into it if you havent.

https://julialang.org