TBH, I don't know lisp and I have no clue what you just wrote. Someone new to PHP can just be told $something is how variables look like. And they will recognize variables forever from then on. What's a variable in that lisp code, or in any general lisp code? I have no clue at first glance.
I didn't say it's necessary for the parser, but it's useful for the learner/user.
I didn't say it's necessary for the parser, but it's useful for the learner/user.