I got bit by this exact thing early on, I don’t think it would be that nuts if if (!optional()) { ... } else |val| {...} worked.
The wacky idea is the mandatory double else for handling !?T, which brings ‘reversal optional’ along for the ride (in a way which is compatible with the double else, for that matter).
I still don’t know if it’s a great idea or a terrible one, to be honest.