> unuseful boilerplate

First,

    ..., err := process(...)
    if err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }

is an unfortunately common antipattern. Errors should always be annotated, e.g.

    ..., err := process(...)
    if err != nil {
        return nil, fmt.Errorf("process: %w", err)
    }

The extra lines carry no significant cost -- it's not like reading them imposes a burden versus parsing a single line dense with semantic information. They expose the `return` keyword, which clearly signals a control flow point that is hidden by method chaining and `?`. And it doesn't grant the error control flow special status! These are virtues. I don't see this as unuseful at all. It's fine if you do, of course! But there's not an objective ruling, here.