Mathematicians aren't averse to learning syntax, but they're lazy.
They learned that stuff because they are either basic methods in the field that have demonstrated value, or what they're actually doing research on.
The syntax buys them power that they wouldn't otherwise have, and they can smell it.
S-expressions? Not so much - the notation is more or less and arbitrary choice unless you're going to leverage the metalanguage capabilities to the hilt, and there are many other programming approaches available.
A mathematician who really wanted to jump into the deep end with programming syntax/structure would much more likely pick up Haskell (categories, yay!) or AVL rather than Lisp.
They learned that stuff because they are either basic methods in the field that have demonstrated value, or what they're actually doing research on.
The syntax buys them power that they wouldn't otherwise have, and they can smell it.
S-expressions? Not so much - the notation is more or less and arbitrary choice unless you're going to leverage the metalanguage capabilities to the hilt, and there are many other programming approaches available.
A mathematician who really wanted to jump into the deep end with programming syntax/structure would much more likely pick up Haskell (categories, yay!) or AVL rather than Lisp.