I don't know, xml represents multiline values so much better than json/yaml. Then when it comes to escaping reserved characters, wrapping it in cdata is a lot cleaner than json/yaml escaping.
I am currently building something new that uses xml for a properties file. My use case requires sql inside a properties file (without the use of additional .sql files). Really wanted to use json/yaml because I felt like I was in the 90s, but xml was just a lot better for this case.
I dont see why it doesnt accomodate SQL just fine.
JSON was never intended primarily for user readability. It's for sending data over a wire. Its focus was on parsing simplicity, ease of serialization and deserialization and to be incidentally readable.
I am currently building something new that uses xml for a properties file. My use case requires sql inside a properties file (without the use of additional .sql files). Really wanted to use json/yaml because I felt like I was in the 90s, but xml was just a lot better for this case.