I would reread the first paragraph. In context, this is clearly not an "anti-Rust/pro-C" essay. It's not a championing of C nor a resignation to its perpetual dominance.

It's a position paper meant to sketch out the negative space that a viable C replacement can't meaningfully compete in, so that its designers can focus attention on things that actually add value. If you don't acknowledge your enemy's strengths, you'll never really be able to fight them.