$ curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh
is the equivalent of closing your eyes and allowing a stranger to feed you candy.
In 2005, Linuxers were less attuned to this kind of supply chain problem. This decade, it is front and center.
See https://www.linuxfoundation.org/blog/preventing-supply-chain-attacks-like-solarwinds/ for example.