Web Components don't solve the problems I do have and add new problems I don't want.
Many of the 25 mentions of Shadow DOM in the Components Page and 14 mentions of it in the Styling page are about solving problems you now only have because the site recommended you use Shadow DOM, and the problem Shadow DOM itself is _trying_ to solve is one I don't have in components written specifically for my app, which will only be used in my app.
Hard agree, from practical experience also. One thing will push you towards shadow dom (slots, for example) then ten things will push you back towards light dom. I don't exactly understand what the spec is aiming to solve with the way things currently are. But I do appreciate no build process.
Given the way most templates about Web Components are going it feels like a dirty secret that you don't need to use Shadow DOM at all when building Web Components and that it actually feels nice to build Web Components without it.
Many of the 25 mentions of Shadow DOM in the Components Page and 14 mentions of it in the Styling page are about solving problems you now only have because the site recommended you use Shadow DOM, and the problem Shadow DOM itself is _trying_ to solve is one I don't have in components written specifically for my app, which will only be used in my app.