There is a case for "optional typing". It's speed. I guess everyone agree on this one.

Better than "strict" typing, sometimes "hints" about the type would be enough.

ie: "ii often integer" versus "ii" or "ii integer"

From then on, those who favor strict typing would be happy, those who favor dynamic typing would be happy and those who favor "efficiency" (whatever this means) would be happy.

Let's close this silly debate.