Btw: is there a particular reason (besides taste maybe) that the Syntax seems heavily inspired by CMD syntax.
Nice to see someone coming around with smart eyes.

winbuilder original correct name is Batcher,
Batcher initially created to change settings with ui instead of manually editing configuration files of BartPE (configuration files=BartPE plugins),
(search with wayback machine
https://web.archive.org/web/2016*/911cd.net -> Batcher )
the name changed to winbuilder to fool public it is a builder like Bart's pebuilder (competition with changing name

)
with other words, the name is intentionally wrong, winbuilder can not build anything alone, As you notice It is mostly a batch engine with ui futures.

I was wondering if there is a project trying to make it more readable by e.g. using the PowerShell?
Yes,
WimBuilder
http://theoven.org/index.php?topic=2390using cmd to build.

ps: Related to the previous quote, also see Lancelot Reply 15
http://theoven.org/index.php?topic=2390.msg29318#msg29318 ,
some posts on WimBuilder topic may be useful for you to figure out things.

