> Isn't it likely that there's just a certain kind of interface and functionality that both works and people have also gotten used to it over time?

This is what I meant by 'design of git lends itself to a very specific interface'.

Git has branches, commits, merging, rebasing, ... It makes sense for a UI interface over git to show data git itself shows.

I also find little wrong with copying UI elements, where it works. The result is better software all around.