I mean, if you don't understand how specialized inlined code could be faster than a generic function, or how not creating temporary arrays could be faster than creating them, then it's clear that you can't see that there could be any benefit.

I can't judge the React compiler yet, but in general, compilation steps don't cause cognitive load if they work. How many different levels of interpretation and compilation does V8 do? And do you care? Do you have to? No, and that's the point. Whether React Compiler reaches the same level of "it just works", we'll have to see.