[kstrauser]

Because it makes the common things easier.

We make these tradeoffs all the time in software engineering. Raw machine code is the most flexible and powerful programming language, and yet most of us here aren't using it today. Make isn't machine code and Just isn't Python, but there's an analogy: you give up something by using the latter in exchange for making it easier to do everyday things.

Just doesn't replace Make. For the thousand everyday tasks where Make's power isn't needed, it's likely a better choice for most people.