Hot reloading is useful when you're making something related to a React-based UI, which you likely are close to 99% of the time in ClojureScript. I seriously doubt it has anything to do with a lack of REPL experience. I use a traditional editor-connected REPL 100% of the time in Clojure and 0% of the time in ClojureScript. I think most of us doing full-stack Clojure work like that.