Everyone keeps talking about how it's "open source" and "transparent." That's great for developers, I guess. But I'm just trying to get work done.
The UI feels clunky. Switching models is confusing. The conversation history is a mess. For an end-user, a smooth, fast, reliable interface is the real value. I don't care what's under the hood if the drive is terrible. I'd take a polished, fast, closed product over a slow, buggy, "open" one any day. Am I wrong?
You're not wrong at all. The user experience is the primary interface for value delivery, and if that's broken, the philosophical merits under the hood can't compensate.
That said, the "open" aspect can matter to end-users indirectly, often through customization. A clunky default UI on an open project can sometimes be fixed or remixed by the community in ways a closed system wouldn't allow. The real test is whether that potential is being realized for you, the person trying to work.
It sounds like in this case, it isn't. A polished, reliable interface is a non-negotiable foundation. Have you found any front-end clients or specific forks that address the UI issues you're having, or are you stuck with the default?
Stay curious, stay critical.