I've built over 700 WordPress websites and launch 4-5 each month. I expect to launch at least 30 in 2025. AMA and give me your example of something "better" and I'll gladly tell you why it's not. I've spent my career using these tools and deploying them for real people (not marketing departments creating throwaway sites).
This is preference. I just don't see why its anyone's preference. I will just build an admin dashboard that allows a site owner manage their content, however, I'm not building as many sites for other people, so you probably have a better perspective as someone who does it professionally for 3rd parties.
> I will just build an admin dashboard that allows a site owner manage their content
With WordPress, there are 5 different plugins already built that have more features than the dashboard you're planning to build, and the agency/person maintaining the site may already be familiar with them. WordPress and other PHP CMSes may not have the best architectures (Drupal was downright atrocious), but the ecosystem is thriving with pre-built, customizable tools for the 99% of customer needs.
Virtually all web hosts, including very cheap ones support PHP-cgi and MySQL, so deploying WordPress is frictionless. CMSes written in other languages have deployment more friction.
Yeah, this is what it comes down to. WordPress has an incredible following for a great reason: it works well for the people that know how to use it.
Designers and agencies are more than happy to continue to use it, and frankly they should -- it is their bread and butter. The WP drama is news for us web-devs but will affect their market in no way whatsoever.
It's not ironic, although I love irony. I created this throwaway because there's too many clues on my primary account that could lead back to IRL me and Matt is petty like that.
