homeassistant

I think it depends on the user. A few years ago asking about a clock card for the dashboard to the community would get the response of 'why? How will that help you automate'.

Personally I found home assistant because I was trying to make a replacement for my google displays - for use in the kitchen, or alarm clocks for example. There still isn't my ideal hardware to make these displays but I know some people are perfectly happy to repurpose a tablet and stick it on the wall.

I didn't know anything about yaml and still use the UI to make my automations. But the dashboard is an easy way to feel like I've accomplished something especially when I'm just starting out. I might dip my toes into yaml for a card here or to edit my automation there but having to use it for everything up front can be very off-putting to a new user.

So all these dashboard improvements are very exciting, I think, for making home assistant seem more accessible to less technical people who are just starting out on their HA journey. And those of us who just like to make things pretty as well as functional but don't have time to learn how to code it.