Some anecdotal experience: I travel to Asia for vacations and majority of the time, I catch a minor cold. The endless coughing and runny nose can really sap my energy. A friend suggested wearing a mask. Once I did, the air I was breathing became warmer and my throat and lungs felt less dry. It really helped a lot. I was glad there were so many others around me wearing masks so I didn’t stand out at all.
I have yet to see a good clean solution. I was fairly new to auth and node when I was given a similar task. Ended up doing a ton of research and I felt I was making decisions I should not have had to make. I recall the tutorials that the article mentions. I was not impressed with the end result.
I don't find it heavy, just that the UI is not pleasant. From the icon, to the splash screen, to the many extraneous menu items and buttons. I find it painful to use, but there doesnt seem to be a good alternative. I guess that means I should create one.