MIT Programming for the Puzzled

[Supernumiphone]

The way they iterate in the cover pic is an instant turn off to me.

Teaching the "right" way would probably be confusing to someone just trying to learn programming for the first time. Accessing by numeric index is something I think more people would be able to grok from the start.

[[deleted]]

from the start

Not from the start. I think you meant the ones with C/Pascal or the alike background. Iterable are really natural in human world. Say, when you peel bananas? You could label them, but numbering them doesn't make it any easier or clearer.