Having a different language to use on the controllers would be great. (Python would be my choice.
) But again, capabilities limit what can be run natively.
Some parts (eg, interrupts) still need to be written in C. And there's enough intricacies in the architecture that you have to be cautious everywhere else, too. (Get a value from a structure out of an array: ~30 words of instructions.)
Personally, I'd say start with lowering the bar on C. Maybe I'll work on a set of tools to handle a laptop on the robot.
EDIT: I wouldn't worry much about advanced features. How many students use them on PCs?