However, when using a language with a great typesystem, the need for a REPL is just much less. You mostly don't need to try things out because the types guide you. Therefore these languages might have a REPL and it might be useful, but REPL-driven is not really necessary.
> I always wish that it would become unnecessary to have to choose between stability and extensibility
Stability, extensibility, low language-complexity. Pick 2.