This really resonates with me. We looked into React at my previous company approx 2 years back, and I hopped on the React bandwagon last fall. A lot changed in that time.

I would add that experimenting with new tools, languages etc. is also an important part of the process. Sitting down and applying something new and shiny to a problem you've already tackled with your "outdated dinosaur skills" should give you a good feel where this new toy is on the adoption curve. Estimating where it is on the curve is a lot harder.

Edit: typos