We found a whole set of technical limitations to using just a chrome extension (file downloads and uploads to name but one). The simplest solution was to include a desktop service, although I agree it's a huge inelegant electron app.

This paved the way for running axiom in the cloud. Once we can do that, you won't need the desktop app.

I hope with time we can have a slimmed down extension-only version too, but this will be more limited in capability.