> IMHO the different syntax shouldn't be an argument for a "serious"
> programmer.

Please count me out as a serious programmer, then. I care deeply about 
the aesthetics of Ruby. I derive great joy from writing beautiful 
programs. Ruby let's me write the most beautiful programs I've ever 
done. Ergo, Ruby makes me happy.

I couldn't think of a higher praise to bestow upon a programming 
language.
--
David Heinemeier Hansson,
http://www.basecamphq.com/   -- Web-based Project Management
http://www.rubyonrails.org/  -- Web-application framework for Ruby
http://macromates.com/       -- TextMate: Code and markup editor (OS X)
http://www.loudthinking.com/ -- Broadcasting Brain