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I like the fluff behind Zealot. the raving zealotry everyone waves in your face is something that makes 40k unique to other sci fi universes, but I don't like rules that are combinations of other rules. so I started experimenting with alternatives, but I can't think of anything that would stay in line with most point costing.

Option 1: improve combat res by some modifier-- boring and too predictable. this would require characters like chaplains and Commissars to the reduced in price, not to mention random characters that I haven't thought of that would suddenly be overcosted by miles.

Option 1a: change the modifier to be scaleable, but to what? +1 to combat res per model would disproportionately make SM chaplains and CSM apostles stupidly oversosted and make Commissars stupidly undercosted by virtue of their respective armies being more and less elite.

Option 2: modify sweep rolls; But then this affects terminator chaplains and by extension, terminators by virtue of not being able to sweep, which isn't something I want to do.

Option 2a: Amend option 2 by flatly letting Zealots always sweep, but then Terminators are too powerful now; they need a buff, sure, but that should have to do with survivability, not firepower IMO. They also are arguably fixed now with being 35ppm in the current codex.

Does anyone else have ideas for what to do with Zealot? What other rules like this should be changed to be more unique?

I'm not a fan of changing rules purely because you don't like that they're combinations of other USRs. If USRs that combine other USRs bug you, just split the USR up into its various sub-rules. Note that this might interfere with rules that trigger off of that specific USR.

If you feel that the Zealot rule is not well-designed, identify why and make adjustments based on that.

If you feel that a unit with the Zealot rule is not well represented/implemented, then identify why and make adjustments based on that.

Changing rules because you don't like how they're organized just creates room for additional balance issues to arise.