Why tuples use parentheses ()'s instead of something else like <>'s?

[Roy Smith]

In article <33gjr1F3siliuU1 at individual.net>,
 Reinhold Birkenfeld <reinhold-birkenfeld-nospam at wolke7.net> wrote:

> >>+<< being an operator

Looks more like a smiley for "guy wearing a bowtie"