> And what about using persistent data structures by default
You can do that in CL if you like to.
> and having JavaScript as a compilation target?
See ParenScript.
> I also haven't heard much about how easy CL's host language inter-op is to work with...
CL doesn't have a host language. And look at ABCL please.
> Another big thing of course is that the community is much more vibrant and welcoming than Common Lisp's.
The community is more skiddish and therefore newbie friendly. CL's community may feel arrogant at first, but with time you will notice it was justified because you were wrong and ignorant about it.
You can do that in CL if you like to.
> and having JavaScript as a compilation target?
See ParenScript.
> I also haven't heard much about how easy CL's host language inter-op is to work with...
CL doesn't have a host language. And look at ABCL please.
> Another big thing of course is that the community is much more vibrant and welcoming than Common Lisp's.
The community is more skiddish and therefore newbie friendly. CL's community may feel arrogant at first, but with time you will notice it was justified because you were wrong and ignorant about it.