Doing things well requires expertise.
> Windows/Linux/Mac cross-platform apps were in the same place before Electron.
Seriously?! Qt predates Electron and is a far superior solution. Of course, if you only know web development, your existing knowledge doesn't translate over easily, but the reverse is equally true.
> but ask anyone today what they'd prefer to build an interface with and it's most like HTML/CSS
Only if they are already experienced in web development. Otherwise, Qt Quick is much better, taking the positives from CSS, without the downsides of using a document format to layout a UI.
> Especially for highly graphic intensive, responsive layouts, there's almost no competition really.
Seriously, Qt Quick is far better. Though on the desktop, you'd be better off not building a "highly graphic intensive, responsive layout" and instead adhering to the established norms.
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Well... I wouldn't go that far, but over the years we've all managed to work around the warts of HTML/CSS and can put up with it.