I agree. I started learning PHP in 2006, and though obviously it's advanced enormously since then, I did wonder if I should switch to more 'modern' options. In particular I tried to switch to Node a few times. But I just found myself feeling like I was missing out on benefits from PHP and not really gaining anything new (particularly, like you say, stateless requests just makes logical sense).

I do think people who react so viscerally negative to it in 2022 are only doing so from an old preconception and not judging it for what it is today. I build seriously large and complex applications and never once have I felt that I was fighting PHP or it was holding me back. I don't really get the hate.