> TailwindCSS has amongst the steepest learning curve I've ever seen

Interesting to hear. I got into turretcss.com and couple other util libraries before Tailwind and liked the utility aspects. I was working a job early on where I was writing large utility style-sheets and realized it was a thing frameworks did. Then I started using Tailwind's cdn sheet and still do for small jobs.

I found it extremely simple to get moving. I think coloring and adjustments through javascript and build systems gets complicated, but once learning how to write plugins it's become my go to. Id like to consider other things, but it's just too dang handy.