> and is embedded in normal javascript

Exactly! I don't know, but I've always found that disgusting. It turned me off React when I first saw it, and it still does.

Then people use it to defend react, and I'm just like 'Lolwut? Did we spend years learning that SOC is a good thing only to throw it out of the window?'

I'll be the first to admit that any Vue template quickly becomes soup as well, but at least it's only half of the soup.

Is it just younger developers that think React is the best thing since sliced bread?