You're not stupid for using a framework, and nobody has pulled a fast one on you. https://seldo.com/posts/the_case_for_frameworks
There was a time when the C language was new, and people worried about its performance. Assembly is faster, uses less memory and disk resources, so, why use C? Because it is easier? That kind of debate happens every time a new, higher level language is created.
Because true, if getting the best performance is the only relevant feature of your application, you shouldn't be using frameworks, or JavaScript, or HTML, or C. You should be using assembly.
But nearly nobody does that. Why? Because the most important feature is nearly always, um, features. All those features your clients ask for. And you can't give all those features if you do with assembly. Not in your life, not on your client's budget.
Use the right tool for the job. Whatever it is. Nothing is forbidden if goals are meet.
