As I get older, I become the next dumber idiot :D

This is misleading. There are all sorts of "idiots" on a bell curve already and making something easier simply widens the stripe of effectiveness. It is a good thing because you now have more "idiots" who could do the job just fine.

I think the implication is often efforts towards "idiot proofing" don't actually improve effectiveness at the end of the day. They simply add something else to trip on.

I'd roughly say that's the case with OPs aliases. Useful if you know what you're doing, or maybe would work with a strict team policy. Otherwise are just going to create more trouble (especially with that force pushing bit in there...).

ETA: I fully support usability! "real programmers just read the manual" arguments be damned.