Making a great language is not just about what you include, it is also about what you leave out. As it says in the Zen of Python, "There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it." Hard deprecation, where existing functionality breaks, is one approach to shrinking a language so the core can mostly fit in our brain. Soft deprecation is good because it can be exercised more quickly and widely than hard deprecation - there won't be as many unintended consequences or side effects.