let me clarify myself. What I see as a "key litteracy skill" is what some calls "Computational Sense" ("A familiarity with the capabilities of computer applications and the ability to easily grasp the difficulty in implementing a computer-based solution. Typically acquired by learning a programming language.") aka https://xkcd.com/1425/

So the "learning to code" is just a mean to an end.

Also I do think that learning to automate the boring stuff (https://automatetheboringstuff.com/ ) improves at least personal (e.g. do your own taxes in Excel, understand AND and OR so you filter email better), social (e.g. ifttt), academic ( e.g. R ), AND professional (e.g. everything) outcomes.

>learning [...] a second language has obvious measurable benefits

and don't you think that the ability to analyze a process and transform it into a sequence of instructions can have measurable benefits too?

You wrote "it's just useful practice for basic logical thinking and problem solving." I agree. It is only that I would remove the "just".

I like what Papert wrote: " debugging is the essence of intellectual activity".

>And also that being to do this is a huge personal and business benefit.

All the "non technical" startup founders looking for/lacking a technical co-founder, you don't think that they would benefit from learning a bit of coding so they can a) estimate what needs to be done (Computational Sense), b) hire the proper people c) specify what is needed ?

Obviously, I am against coding as "learn js in 5 days" but not being able to FazzBazz(2,7). I am for learning what a computer can do.