As I noted elsewhere here, but since it is relevant to your comment I think: What I would like to see, along these lines, is a language that is as easy to learn/use as python/ruby/etc, but based on rust and rust-like, using rust libraries if at all possible, with garbage collection, so one can have an easy entrypoint to Rust, and if ever needing the full performance etc of rust, change a compiler switch (or something) and the full rust kicks in.
In other words, a step-by-step learning process from simple to hard, maybe 2-4 levels, and you never have to throw away what you already learned and start over, when going to the next step.
OCaml is "sort of like Rust, but with a GC." It could serve as a good introduction to functional programming, but without having to worry about the borrow checker.
(I know that's not quite what you're saying -- it sounds like you're asking for a "Rust--", which is Rust with some complicated stuff turned off. But it's a start.)
Thanks. I think I read in wkp that Rust itself was originally written in OCaml.
To slightly clarify my earlier comment: I am learning rust and plan to use it, but in the long run it seems it could save time for the world overall, if there were something to recommend to others, say, members of a team who want or need something easier, but is easily transitioned to full rust, with as much shared knowledge between the two as possible.
In other words, a step-by-step learning process from simple to hard, maybe 2-4 levels, and you never have to throw away what you already learned and start over, when going to the next step.