XML is a Markup Language. The text is what is being marked up, and the attributes are how to mark it up. Try writing the equivalent of <font family="Arial">Hello world</font> without attributes. I'll wait.

Using XML as a structured data interchange format is abuse. Of course the square peg doesn't fit in the round hole. You propose filing off the corners of the square, making it an octagon, so it will fit the round hole better.