I think React can be approached a little like JavaScript at this point: just use the good parts!

In my case that means using it as a rendering library and component composer, but not for managing state or side-effects.

This is exactly how I feel. I gave hooks a real, exclusive try for two years after they were introduced (2018-2020). I didn't like them—at all—so I went back to only using React as a UI library. I'm lucky enough now to work at a place where nobody else likes hooks either.

Agreed. Like too much javascript, keeping in mind what it takes to get something running vs keeping it running is a consideration.

There are some fantastic rendering tools in React like Remotion.