I've developed in WPF/XAML and React extensively and couldn't agree more. The fundamental problem with XAML, IMHO, was that it was a plain text file format masq

I've developed in WPF/XAML and React extensively and couldn't agree more. The fundamental problem with XAML, IMHO, was that it was a plain text file format masquerading as source code. The experience of writing XAML broke down very quickly the moment you try to do anything beyond hello world. You must use an IDE. As a result, WPF/XAML always felt heavy, hard to use and over engineered. WPF, XAML and Blend always felt like it was a tool built by people who did not use it themselves. React, in the other hand, is dead simple and lightweight.