The current state of front-end web development isn't a mess, it's actually the opposite. I would argue it is bleeding edge. If you look at it from an engineering perspective (inside-out), it's probably not the best. But if you're looking at the quickest way to deliver value you to your customers, it is unmatched. Every other application development stack other than front-end development requires compile, build and deployment steps. With front-end development, you can literally reach billions of customers whenever you decide to do so. The only requirement is a somewhat modern browser. The current state of front-end development is amazing.