Are you confusing syntax with grammar? Rust has a large grammar—many reserved words, many compile-time macros, etc.—but not too much in the way of syntax (e.g. novel punctuational operators; novel kinds of literals; etc.)
C++ and Perl, meanwhile, both have tons and tons of syntax, such that they're 1. harder to grasp for people who haven't seen them before, and 2. harder to learn (especially by attempting to Google language features "by name.")
If there was a spectrum with Lisp [or Forth] on one end and APL on the other, Rust might be somewhere right-of-center... but it'd still be pretty far left of C++ and Perl.
Also, given the languages that occupy the ends of said spectrum, I think it should be clear that your position on said spectrum has no correspondence with "expressive power" :)
C++ and Perl, meanwhile, both have tons and tons of syntax, such that they're 1. harder to grasp for people who haven't seen them before, and 2. harder to learn (especially by attempting to Google language features "by name.")
If there was a spectrum with Lisp [or Forth] on one end and APL on the other, Rust might be somewhere right-of-center... but it'd still be pretty far left of C++ and Perl.
Also, given the languages that occupy the ends of said spectrum, I think it should be clear that your position on said spectrum has no correspondence with "expressive power" :)