Little new functionality is implemented as new syntax; most of it is done with functions or things that look like functions.
That's a problem? I think it's a problem if new functionality can't be implemented as part of a library. I think it's a problem if the best way of implementing new functionality is always to have new syntax.
There's surely some middle ground, here. PHP defines constants with a function, creates functions with a function, creates data structures with a thing that isn't actually a function but is inexplicably designed to sorta resemble a function. Only now are these basic value definitions getting dedicated syntax.
That's a problem? I think it's a problem if new functionality can't be implemented as part of a library. I think it's a problem if the best way of implementing new functionality is always to have new syntax.