(1) Access to low-level and platform-specific features. Whatever I do, I always eventually need it as program gets specialized, and always be frustrated on non-native platforms. Usually cross platform stuffs lack this or needlessly painful even they offer it. Also you still have to write platform specific code even they support it. (2) Freedom of development. From native, it's relatively easier to build up HTML5 stuffs on top of it. (or whatever…) So I still can utilize HTML5 stuff if I really need it. Reverse is mostly impossible. (3) (Though that's arguable, what's native?…) Compatibility. Native development on C/C++ level always offer best compatibility. There's no computing platform doesn't support C/C++. Emscripten extended this even to HTML5. HTML stuffs are available only on browsers and a few specialized platforms. (4) Legacy. I always discover a mostly ideal implementation exists on native platform where HTML5 people are making efforts to bring. This includes better toolset for code writing and debugging. (5) Future. (I imply HTML5 == markup+CSS+JS). No serious major browser vendor really loves HTLM5. Because that limits their platform features. That's why they're adding WebGL and C/C++ support or whatever non-HTML stuffs from native world.