The reality of React is that you have to keep re-learning and un-learning stuff if you want to keep up with React's ecosystem, because the surface area of the libraries is so large. (see "JavaScript fatigue")
Whereas with HTMX you learn a very, very basic concept in 15mins, and you're good to go for the next decade(s), and it will be more than enough for 80% of your projects.
Same as with vim and Emacs vs. proprietary IDEs and text editors.
I agree that people often do this but I don't think you _have_ to. You could have freely ignored SSR, RSC, etc. and kept on making boring old React SPAs. The churn is largely opt-in.
> The churn is largely opt-in.
It is not. React 18 changed damn near everything. You can't create a new React 17 project without jumping through serious hoops. React 19.5 introduced the compiler, so you can stop using useCallback and useMemo. Except for "common scenarios" where you still need it. Which are about as clear as mud.
I can only imagine what React 20 is going to introduce.
My current app is a boring SPA. SSR, RSC wouldn’t make sense for it. My previous app was a video player with UI drawn in React: couldn’t SSR that.