Re: Ann: SWI-Prolog 7.1.0

  - It uses a lot more memory (1 cell for joe and 3 for word(joe)).

Yes.


  - It makes switching on the _type_ of word(joe) fast, but switching
    on word(joe) vs. word(john) slow.  So, you need to be careful where
    you wrap joe in word/1.
If joe and john are significant, then the structure would be different.


  - It is kind of awkward to read.
Depends.  It really clarifies what the system thinks of your data.

  - Most Prolog programmers have given up way before they understand
    this part of this book (probably even before they bought the
    book in the first place).


It is not clear to me how this change to lists helps them.

It is not clear to me how this change hinders anyone.