Erlang has multiple higher level barrier of entries than other languages. For starting, its syntax.

but Erlang isn't a scripting language, it's a full-blown language with a rich ecosystem and framework (BEAM).

Lua is also a full blown language, with an ecosystem as well.

Perhaps the road block that you've run into is because you've been treating it as just a scripting language.

Again, tastes. I found Erlang to be one of the easiest languages I ever used. I just immediately "got" it. Unfortunately I've had very few professional opportunities to use it.