The correct fix is to store the metadata outside the CAS, in for example, the loader, which can trivially delegate to another loader (does on my machine now).

bazel's wrong solution is $ORIGIN, Nix's wrong solution is "floating" CA / "realizations".

The technical debt / precedent argument doesn't apply: Nix never had this bug (for once), you the choices on this bug are 1. port the bazel bug to Nix 2. don't port the bug.

I predict... the bug is a shoe in, the bug lands eight days a week.