Between any two distinct numbers, there are infinite other numbers. (e.g. between 1.3 and 1.4 is 1.31, 1.32, 1.34593875834754985398475, etc)

If .999... does not equal 1, you should be able to name at lest one of the numbers in between.

You can't, therefore they must be the same number, written in two different ways.

Nothing esoteric about that, I feel.

Grey Wolf