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When does a 'desktop app' become a 'bastardised web' (sic). Is it when it communicates via http? When it renders HTML? Lots of apps that you may be running (e.g. iTunes, the Mac app store) do this. If it's well integrated with the host OS, I don't see what the problem is; would you rather it weren't cross-platform, or it used another cross-platform framework, or it were several separate codebases?

> When does a 'desktop app' become a 'bastardised web'

When it is a chrome over a gigantic web view instead of properly making use of native UI widgets.

> iTunes, the Mac app store

Both good examples on how not to do it, specially on Windows.

Give me a native app that uses native widgets, works with native toolkits, and can be themed with my Qt theme.

Give me a native app that feels native, that looks native, and that is native.

Any included WebView to display content is an instant "nope" criterium, because the WebView content won't be themeable or look or feel native.

That doesn't make it any less useful--even though I find it a bit unnecessary. To note, that a program like that can be made within 10 minutes in Visual Studio (there is a video on Yt for a similar one integrating Fb Messenger).

Get off my lawn!