Consider also how complex these reactors already are, it makes sense to use the simplest method that we know works well.
We start with detached electrons moving at high speeds (plasma). We want detached electrons moving at moderate speeds (electrical current). And yet, the intermediate steps involve everything from heat, steam, large-scale mechanical forces and magnetic induction, just to get back to the electrons?
It feels more like the "pull in a 500MB framework instead of writing the function yourself" kind of simplicity.
Essentially yes, but it's a function that has been continuously optimised by engineers for 200 years.