I wouldn’t say so… I consistently choose Rust mainly because it’s a sanely designed modern C++ alternative. It’s 20% more effort than writing Python or Typescript, and you get to use the full power of your hardware without compromise.

Safety is a nice side-benefit. The main reason why I like the safety is because it allows you to fearlessly write high-level code without being constantly paranoid about memory as in C++. It’s more about enabling ergonomics without loosing performance, rather than security or correctness.

Idk, it also has a nicely expressive typesystem outside of lifetimes, a lot of modern syntactic features like pattern matching and monadic error handling, well-written compiler error messages, a well-designed standard library, and substantially less accrued cruft when compared to its largest competitor. Safety might be the cudgel its evangelists like to beat everyone over the head with, but there are certainly things to recommend it outside of that.

Rust has a lot of things that make it nice to write in. Robust enums and pattern matching are something I miss greatly when I’m back in C++. The trait inheritance system is also very flexible and I miss that. Especially compared to monstrosities like multiple inheritance.

Only people who don't write Rust think Rust's whole shtick is safety.

Consider reading past the hashtag.

Part of Rust's schtick is also cost free abstractions.