I think mostly people like to have logical component with all the code in one place and not have to think about structuring css/html/js separately. Many people like react for jsx (surprisingly, because initially there was a lot of push back even in early react adoption).

Then they took it to the next level with things like styled-component. Virtual DOM is just an implementation detail and overrated to the success of React.

Any future web framework that solves that component thing and allow people to just write code instead of "web code", they'll win.

(I am aware that the web veterans don't like that view)