Same experience here with LuaJIT. My submissions using low-level types (byte arrays and such) were put into 'interesting alternative', too.

Almost all other languages can use byte arrays, when they are the appropriate data structure for the job. The C submissions make heavy use of GCC extensions, Haskell gets to use mutable (OMG!) byte arrays and Free Pascal has about as much in common with Wirth's Pascal as the name.

But Python and Lua are not allowed to do that? Apparently not all languages are treated equally. Dismissing submissions by resorting to a flawed definition of 'standard' and then suppressing further debate is really lame.

I contributed almost all of the Lua programs to the shootout, but I do not feel particularly encouraged to continue contributing any programs.