SQL is a mess. It's actually a fairly well-thought-out and straightforwards language. However, in the quest to make it 'human-readable', it's very unintuitive to compose.
Then let's stop using it for the wrong purpose. Any DBMS can have two interfaces -- SQL for human interaction, and proper API for machines to talk. More secure and efficient.
I completely agree. I've written several DSLs that are much better for machine use, and they've gained traction, but to really shift the industry would require involvement from vendors, who seem uninterested.
