Ah, if that’s the case, then there is a malfunction in the alt+wheel scroll. See this screen recording. Keep in mind I am scrolling smoothly in one direction in this video, though it would look like I was ratcheting back and forth by the observed behaviour. I can only jumpy-zoom in, not back out again.
If I had a vote, I would say that a plain mouse wheel roll should zoom without modifier in the map view. A vertical scroll isn’t that useful in a 2D canvas. I would also advocate for middle-click to pan, though I realize a plain click does this already. Again, that is muscle memory for me from CAD-land, but seems sensible from the point of view that the middle mouse button is used to both pan and zoom views in most software with 2D or 3D workspaces.
I forget middle mouse buttons aren’t as common for non graphics and CAD users. Everyone I know uses a 3-button mouse with their mac!