1. Hooks handle a lot more of React's lifecycle in a way that better matches how they're used
2. They allow more widespread usage of functional components. No more rewriting to and from classes while refactoring!
3. Concurrent mode all the things!
Unfortunately, the opposition to hooks has gotten lost in the sea of people trying to wrap their heads around it. It's also really easy to respond to criticism with "Just wait! Cool things are coming!". That's no fun for someone who has legitimate criticism and doesn't really see a way to voice those concerns.
It's a lot of what made me seriously consider other communities. React may be dominant, but gosh, at least I can roughly predict where other projects are going and can contribute in meaningful ways