The naming and pattern comes from ML languages like Ocaml.
https://cs3110.github.io/textbook/chapters/mut/refs.html
This is also how the useRef hook in react works.
I don’t mind the way it currently is, but I do see how a style more like mut from Rust could be interesting.
Personally I don’t think it’s worth changing a language feature that is inspired by language A to a language feature inspired by language B. The only reason that I think this would be worth it is if we’re adopting or changing syntax to align with JavaScript.
Since the ref exists in React, which is very common and has widespread usage, and we don’t have a native JS alternative, I would be in favor of leaving it as is and perhaps enhancing the documentation.