Ask HN: Why is WhatsApp API so bad?

- Limited APIs (You can't read previous messages, you have to rely on the Webhook and pray you don't miss anything, you can't even use the same number on a smartphone as a backup or fallback)

- Limited flexibility

- Painful on-boarding experience

- Painful to use for pro-active Customer Support (Users have to initiate messages, you can't get back to them after 24 hours without using an automated template message)

It feels like they are actively sabotaging the potential of this service.

What am I missing? would love to hear from someone at Facebook.