There are not many words that start with the letter x. The name Xavier is a great one, as it also means that the owner get x as an initial!
Anyway, back to the subject, xylophones. I used to pronounce it 'ex-low-phone' as a child.
There are some instruments that are totally distinctive. The Australian Didgeridoo is one, Pan Flutes are another, and of course, the xylophone.
What makes xylophones the most interesting, except perhaps for the Didgeridoo, is the distinctive sound.
What I like best though, is when a real expert player is using one, and they hold multiple hammers in one hand, to strike multiple notes at the same time. Kind of harmonic, I guess, like a 12 string guitar.