I agree with you and let me make another argument for it.
Consider the fact that a sensible longer variable name can not be THAT MUCH longer.
This creates a problem where you have to manufacture a 10-20-30 character name that somewhat describes what the variable is.
Inevitably you end up creating a somewhat misleading name that badly describes what that variable is supposed to be. Probably leaving something out to avoid the name getting too long. You can't write an essay as the variable name.
If you accept the short single letter variable name instead you avoid this losing battle to manufacture a name for an abstract thing.
Instead you will have the ability to maybe describe what "a" is in a more elaborate code comment.
Consider the fact that a sensible longer variable name can not be THAT MUCH longer.
This creates a problem where you have to manufacture a 10-20-30 character name that somewhat describes what the variable is.
Inevitably you end up creating a somewhat misleading name that badly describes what that variable is supposed to be. Probably leaving something out to avoid the name getting too long. You can't write an essay as the variable name.
If you accept the short single letter variable name instead you avoid this losing battle to manufacture a name for an abstract thing.
Instead you will have the ability to maybe describe what "a" is in a more elaborate code comment.