I think it's possible to express functional programming in an imperative fashion:
if... else
/ switch
statements There are huge problems with such approach:
Functional programming, treating functions/ methods like objects and embracing statelessness, was born to solve those problems I believe.
Example of usages: frontend applications like Android, iOS or web apps' logics incl. communication with backend.
Other challenges when simulating functional programming with imperative/ procedural code:
I also believe that at the end of the day, functional code will get translated into assembly or machine code which is imperative/ procedural by the compilers. However, unless you write assembly, as humans writing code with high level/ human-readable language, functional programming is the more appropriate way of expression for the listed scenarios