IMO the big value add from React and friends is all of your rendering logic is in the same language and the same code base. I do not want to go back to template

IMO the big value add from React and friends is all of your rendering logic is in the same language and the same code base. I do not want to go back to templated HTML from Ruby/Java/PHP/whatever combined with ad hoc JS to handle whatever parts need to be dynamic. If you know your UI can be almost completely static (like with HN) then the trade-off from the old way is acceptable. But if you don't know where your site's going to go because you're a startup then it's hard to buy into old school SSR. NextJS, when done right, can be an acceptable 3rd option.