I like ZCoin but....

[Keihatsu]

.... it has just taken 200 hours to sync my desktop wallet, including 2 re-indexes along the way.

Painfully slow. Monero was much quicker.

Why does it take so long compared to others? the software or encryption?

I have super quick broadband and a 6 core 64 bit machine.

Imagine how long it will take as the chain is significantly bigger.