Just did an interview test where I built an app using context instead of Redux to prove you could use context just as robustly without using Redux. The end result was exactly as you said, an almost identical implementation of Redux in the first place with just as much boilerplate. I guess the benefit would be less shippable 'bytes' by not including the Redux library, as well as no need for thunks or other middleware.

But, I agree with you, not having the benefit of Redux Dev Tools is a big deal. And, I think if I was aware of Redux Toolkit and Redux Toolkit Query it would make more sense to use those, well supported libraries, which feature great enhancements like query caching that I would need to build myself otherwise. And with the ease of setup, I think I am now in agreement with you, that RTK and RTK Query are the way to build apps from scratch in the current state of the RN world.