For multi-platform to be worth anything it has to be good for something. Why would I care that an app I don't want to use can be executed on several platforms?

You're not representative of the development world as a whole. You not wanting to use anything electron related is irelevant to its actual success.

Don't forget HN is a bubble : Electron is very much appreciated outside of this particular community.

And what particular javascript-centric bubble are you part of? Again, what electron-apps do people appreciate?

There might be tons, I just haven't seen anything usable.

VSCode has been cited dozens of times on this thread only, and is probably one of the best Electron apps. I personally like Insomnia, Postman, Nylas, Discord, Git Kraken.

Not seeing "anything usable" is pure bad faith.

VSCode is currently mentioned three times (including your comment) in the entire discussion here, of which one predates my comment. You said something about bad faith?

But yes, VSCode is probably the exception. But they have had to spend a truly impressive effort to combat the shortfalls of electron and are to my knowledge the only ones that might have succeeded in making something relatively performant.

If that is what is required to make electron decent then few arguments in favor of it remains.

[citation needed] I wonder how many outside HN bubble even know what electron is.

I think quite a lot of Electron app users see value in being able to use the desktop app on their work pc and switch to a web version in their travel laptop. Also there is a lot of value in being able to just register on the web and start using the app until you find that you need a feature that is only available on the desktop, because of fewer restrictions, and only then switch, lowering the barrier to entry considerably.

Electron apps are good because they are as bad as a web site?

Yes I get that different sets of features on different platforms is an issue. But often that is half the point, if everything could be done on a website there is in the vast majority of cases no need for an electron "app".

Why wouldn't I just run the desktop app on my work laptop?