[cben]

fish does make scripting so much saner. - $array just does the right thing, which bash can only approximate as "${array[@]}". This alone is worth everything. - (command) splits the output on newlines. - Block syntax is simpler, with exception of boolean composite conditions that need awkward begin ..; end wrapping - "everything is a command" syntax makes writing sometimes more verbose but reading easier. - prototyping at the command line then turning into a script is easier thanks to multi-line editing with indentation and syntax highlight.

There is however the portability factor. I've used fish as my only interactive shell for at least 5 years yet I rarely write a script complex enough to justify requiring users to have fish installed. Even when I write only for myself this sits at the back of my head and biases me to #!/bin/bash... From this perspective, "bish compiles to bash" made me immediately take note as a wise move.