Positive

[bearophile]

Having two ways to do the same thing is generally very bad. So what you suggest is acceptable only as a *replacement* for the old syntax.

The ! is useful, because for me it means "instantiate real code from this template!", it's a command to do an action. While the dot syntax looks too much like method invocation and the like.

So I too add my -1 vote to the dot syntax. I think we are about at -20 now, I presume you have had the (negative) answer from the community.

And next time I suggest you to ask people first. In the design of a language I've seen it's very easy to add personal quirks.

Regarding the font to use, I suggest you Inconsolata, it's free and it's the best looking I have seen so far:
http://www.levien.com/type/myfonts/inconsolata.html

Bye,
bearophile