It also solves very hard problems, that:

a) need solving

b) are expensive to fail at

This in an age where the easy problems are increasingly pre-solved by free libs, or can be solved fast and cheap by AI.

Rust is increasingly the best tool for high-value spaces where cheap and dirty options are obviously unworkable.

Vocal minority might be one of them. But I think that is not the only reason. I think it also because a lot of very useful and performant tools are being written in it. Also, the fact that so many programs are being created likely suggests to newcomers (like me) is that it is not unreasonably difficult to write code in it.