The React model of UI development is much much easier to work in than an OO model of UI. There are fewer wires between objects (often none at all), nearly zero state in each "object" or UI component (or none at all), no callbacks, just mostly one-way declarative setup. Apple should (and is) giving it some attention. Many former Apple UIKit developers as well as those working on things like ReactiveCocoa (which is a different paradigm) are enticed by what Facebook has done with the React paradigm.
I agree with you. I did not try ReactiveCocoa since I spent time on Swift instead. But I know the react way is way easier to manage the states all over the place. Any idea on the inline-CSS thing? Is operating directly on JS a better way to go? I guess I'm too used to doing things like UIView.alpha = 0.4 to manipulate the appearance of an visual object :) Thanks for being patient of answering my silly questions.