When you explore a problem, use Python and lists/sets/dictionaries/JSON. Wait with types and specific data structures till you have understanding. Speed of development over speed of execution.

When you know what and how to build commit to good data structures. Do the types, structs, classes, Trie, CRDTs, XML, Protobuf, Parquet and whatnot where apropriate. Instrument your program. The efficiency of the final product counts.

Afaict Perlis is more saying not to expose data layout in the boundaries between abstractions, rather to keep them pure and functional.

So not really a contradiction, just Perlis talking about the functional shell and Torvalds/Pike talking about the imperative core.

That is indeed contradictory and what those things say.

Good structure comes from exploring until you understand the problem well AND THEN letting data structure dominate.