Implicitly typed arrays: why we can't set array size explicitly?

Question

The C# language specification (7.6.10.4) says, that there are tree kinds of array creation expressions:

new non-array-type [ expression-list ] rank-specifiersopt array-initializeropt
new array-type array-initializer
new rank-specifier array-initializer

The third one is intended for implicitly typed arrays:

var foo = new[] { 1, 2, 3 };

The question: is there any weighty reason to forbid to set array size explicitly in case of implicitly typed array?

It looks like asymmetric behavior, comparing with this syntax:

var foo = new int[3] { 1, 2, 3 };

Update.

A little clarification. The only advantage for combination of explicitly set array size and array initializer I can see, is the compile-time check for initializer length. If I've declared the array of three ints, the initializer must contain three ints.

I think, the same advantage is true for the implicitly typed arrays. Of course, to use this advantage or not to use is the personal preference.

Answer 1

The rank specifier is not needed because it is already supplied by the number of elements in the initialization list.