There are two distinct constructs that are referred to using the name variable in computer science:

1) A ‘variable’ is an identifier which is bound to a fixed value by a definition;

2) a ‘variable’ is a memory location, or a higher level approximation abstracting over memory locations, which is set to and may be changed to a value by an assignment;

Both of the above are acceptable uses of the word. I am of the mindset that the non-independent existence of these two meanings in both languages and in discourse are a large and fundamental problem.

I take the position that, inspired by mathematics, a variable should mean #1. Thereby making variables immutably bound to a fixed value. Meaning #2 should have some other name and require explicit use thereof.

From the PLT and Maths background, a mutable variable is somewhat oxymoronic. So, I agree let’s not copy JavaScript, but let’s also not be dismissive of the usage of terminology that has long standing meanings (even when the varied meanings of a single term are quite opposite).