Picking a tool to solve a problem is the opposite approach to how you solve the problem. You instead need to define the problem and then find the tool which is the best fit. If you're frustrated with the tool, then you might need to put more thought into the problem.
I still write and draw on paper but not for journal purposes.
An app is hidden away on my phone, and I need to actively open it to use it. But my bullet journal is always in my bag. It serves as a physical reminder. And it oddly gives me way more flexibility in how I structure it.
Being a software developer myself, the irony isn't lost me.
Or at least, it would be 4 - 5 completely different processes and a given note app isn't best for all of them.
I use...
App for capture and inbox (this is an actual note taking app but I don't use it for writing)
App for writing notes (my own writing
App for display and management of networked notes
App for arranging (networked notes), outlining and building to the draft stage of writing
These are all part of a typical note cycle which many people use one app for. I put these notes through a cycle in the order that I wrote them. Typically I would start out with capturing information, then creating my own notes from that information and then eventually using that information for my own writing. I'm not a writer, but writing helps me think through things I want to understand better.
I could constrain myself to a physical journal. I could constrain myself to anything. It would drive me nuts though. I would end up attacking the journal with scissors and then pasting pieces of paper to the walls. Then arranging pieces and pasting notes on top of each other as my ideas change.
As far as the physical (bullet) journal goes. It works great for me as I use it to structure my daily tasks. It allows me the freedom of structuring using visuals without being constrained by GUI tools. It's quick and doesn't get in my way too much. Which is what I need for it to stick for my habit.
Plain text doesn't fix note-taking any more than it can fix to-do lists. Again, there's no tool to blame.