My main problem with Nix isn't the language, which is fine. My problem is that Nix shoehorns everything into it; I have to write my nginx config (for example) in Nix for some bespoke nixpkg.

I would much rather just version my nginx config written in nginx config, and let Nix pull that up, or something like that. Then you get all the benefits of Nix (I think?) but my configuration is also readable for someone who doesn't know Nix. Plus I can use my existing knowledge (as well as the wealth of online available docs), instead of something obscure.