I also think the use of library functions instead of better range syntax is just lazy. Swift has x...y for “x through y, inclusive”, x..<y for " x (inclusive) to y (exclusive)", x... for “x and greater”, ...y for “less than or equal to y”, and ..<y for “less than y”. So much capability with a language-level operator, and Kotlin just stopped at the first meaning.
It’s… Saddening, if not annoying.