One of the reasons I've adopted Clojure (for small things... so far...) is the high density of very smart folks using it and building it.

I did too until I realized I wasn't ready for so much lispiness, too abstract for me right now.

"too abstract" is not a phrase I'd think to associate with a lisp. It's all just data. If anything I'd expect people to say there's too little abstraction.

But the right amount of macro and alternative design can throw a noob off quite easily. Beside that I agree with you.