Both very good points -- I hadn't originally assumed it was a joke, mostly because I don't write `rust` code and I don't know how unlikely it would be to come to that solution.

I know I've seen examples at least as odd as this in the past in languages I'm familiar with -- where, say, the developer was really good with LINQ or something and made five calls instead of just accessing an array by index -- that were meant "intentionally", but were bizarre to someone not sitting in their brain at that moment.

I hadn't, however, thought about either of the points you mentioned.

You're quite the detective. :)