Very subjective and ignores all the great strides these technologies have made. React has made it infinitely easier for everyone to build scalable websites and web apps so I don't think I agree with your upper end statement.
To try, very hard, to keep the user on the site as long as possible, to shove as many ads as possible in front of their face.
Consider the opportunity costs imposed on everyone else as a result of tech.
Also, if "everyone" in your social circle can build websites with React, you need to get outside your bubble more - because I work in tech, and I don't know a single person who could build a website in React. Myself included. I'm happy with a Jekyll rendering pipeline these days.
We've done some neat stuff. I won't argue. But I also think that the current state of (suitable handwave) "tech" is long past the point of diminishing returns for most people, and well into negative returns.
Also you have a very pessimistic view of websites and web apps, which is fine, it's your prerogative, but that's just your opinion.
I went out of the way to purge any actual Javascript requirements from my personal blog, because I want it usable without JS. About all you get is local search and some image shadowbox sort of scaling with it, otherwise it's not needed.
I reject the notion that everything should be a responsive web application, and I make my living in the deep weeds of the kernel and below, so... it's fine. We're in different stacks, and I expect your idea of working on 90 year old cars and tractors matches my view of having to try to build a "modern" website when all I want to do is publish some stuff.
It may very well be "just my opinion," but it's a more and more shared one lately. Consumer tech is human-toxic, through and through, anymore. Despite the promises it once had.