I agree - if you're comparing runtime implementations.
I think this is actually a useful comparison, though. I would argue it's a lot easier to become a proficient, performance-conscious programmer in python, java, or even Haskell, than C. And you're more likely to shoot yourself in the foot with C.
From the point of view of someone who hasn't learned either language (maybe a scientist or engineer looking to do some simulation work), the message here is, "with the same time and effort, not only is Haskell as fast as C in many cases, but in some cases it will actually be faster than the C code that you, a beginner, can write."
I think this is actually a useful comparison, though. I would argue it's a lot easier to become a proficient, performance-conscious programmer in python, java, or even Haskell, than C. And you're more likely to shoot yourself in the foot with C.
From the point of view of someone who hasn't learned either language (maybe a scientist or engineer looking to do some simulation work), the message here is, "with the same time and effort, not only is Haskell as fast as C in many cases, but in some cases it will actually be faster than the C code that you, a beginner, can write."