There certainly were other factors, but people have been quite vocal in their enjoyment of the new syntax.

I think the ML people like me are kinda used to not getting their favourite syntax. Alas!

It is possible, but would be an interesting co-incidence. More anecdotal evidence, but Elixir has an easier time with adoption that Erlang and a big part of that reason is syntax.

It's superficial, you get past it quickly, but it's the first thing you encounter and that can affect whether people give a language a 'proper' go.