Using `With[...]` with a list specification as a variable

One of the standard tricks I learn on this site is this:

init = Hold[{a = 1, b = 2, c = 3}];
init /. Hold[v_] :> With[v, f[a, b, c, x]]

(*  f[1, 2, 3, x]  *)

Another way is to use delayed assignment in the first argument of With:

With[{init := {a = 1, b = 2}},
 With[init, {a, b}]]

{1, 2}

Or if you prefer to store your variable specification list as an OwnValue:

init := {a = 1, b = 2}
Unevaluated[With[init, {a, b}]] /. OwnValues[init]

{1, 2}

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