Why are variables stored on the stack?

Hello:

We know that C programs are often vulnerable to buffer overflows which
overwrite the stack.

But my question is: Why does C insist on storing local variables on the
stack in the first place?

I can see two definite disadvantages with this:
1) deeply nested recursive calls to a function (especially if it defines
large local arrays) can easily overflow the stack
2) the problems described above of security vulnerabilities.

My solution would be for C instead to store its local variables on the
heap - effectively separating data from executable code.

What do people think?

.

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