Potentially, such an homogeneous research medium is indeed very powerful: It offers a homogeneous, integrated software environment for scientists. Reproducibility and interactivity are usually easily achieved and very transparent. Integrating mathematical derivations, they offer tools to extend Claerbout's concept of reproducibility upstream from computer algorithms.
Naturally, today's symbol-manipulating languages exhibit shortcomings in particular areas when compared to more dedicated systems. Especially, the shear size of a typical geophysical problem exhausts the capability of these programs. It is the strength of Claerbout's multimedia approach to flexibly incorporate symbol-manipulating programs, as I have in this case of shot continuation.
Since the packages are commercial products the reproducibility and interactivity is restricted to owners of a software license. Yet, some of these languages are accompanied by a freely distributed 'reader' program, which permits the reproduction of a result, but disables interactivity.