the argument against this is usually performance and code maintenance. writing something in a strict but clearly articulated language means there's a better chance the next person looking at the code will be able to figure it out. that said, php in many ways better reflects the opportunists in us all and is more familiar because of it. by using a hodgepodge of conventions all abstracted away from their parent languages into the same compiler, php lets us pick from a much wider palette of metaphors when we're conceptualizing how we approach solving a problem. which can be pretty damn useful for those of us who don't know all the answers. it feels as though it's designed for us (messy) humans.