A lack of enforced language standards does end up producing a language full of difficult-to-learn inconsistencies, though.

It makes difficult to codify inconsistencies. Most aren't that difficult to learn, oddly. Especially if you are just trying to be conversational.

Edit: I'm specifically going off evidence of teaching my kids. They have basically picked up language completely by talking to us. Even pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc. What they have not learned, is the reasons some words are used when another could have worked.