[wruza]

I’m sure there are other string search paradigms that are far better but relatively unknown

Sure if they were, we’d already discover them. All of the regex criticism boils down to few simple statements for categories of cases:

1) I didn’t learn regex and have no cheatsheet

Learn it or at least print a cheatsheet and stick it to the wall.

2) The problem that this specific regex solves is a hell of a regular problem under any representation.

Any particular regex is only as terrible as a ladder of corresponding if’s and for’s would be. Deal with it.

3) The problem that this specific regex solves is not a regular language.

Use a proper xml parser.