Basically the security model of Modula-2 or Object Pascal, with a curly brackets syntax, and compile time execution.

Some folks embrace it as some kind of novelty.

It does seem like they're trying to convince themselves. If you like Zig, that's a good enough reason to use it. Why waste time on language tribalism?

I have the same issue with "use the right tool" rhetoric. The right tool is the one that does the job and that you know best.