Typing these symbols isn't a problem at all.  For example, in NARS2000, a free APL interpreter I use, the assignment operator "←" is entered simply with "Alt + [".  It takes seconds to internalize this and never think about it again.  If you download NARS2000 right now you will know how to enter "←" immediately because I just told you how to do it.  You will also know exactly what it does.  It's that simple.

I'm not nearly qualified enough to speak to the rest of your message, but I should point out that I still have no idea how to type that arrow. The keystroke for [ already includes the Alt key and does nothing in NARS

Alex