In re JSON causing problems, I would rather deal with JSON than yet another bespoke 'simpler' format. I have plenty of tools that can deal with JSON in generally straightforward ways and approximately none that work on your specific new simpler format. Awk may let me build a tool, depending on what your format is, and Python definitely will, but I don't want to.
This is re: https://infosec.exchange/@tychotithonus/113012173172896900