> Sure, high level is the goal. But the question is whether the abstractions are the correct ones that fit the problem.

Not quite. The path to high level always involves abstractions that fit the problem. There is still room for a decision to replace high-level with low-level in some very specific bits of a hot path, but that decision also takes into consideration the tradeoffs of foregoing straight-forward high-level solutions with low-level versions that are harder to maintain. The sales pitch to push code that is harder to maintain requires a case that goes way beyond performance arguments.