Let's start with some good news: WYSIWYG editors have come a long way since the days of Microsoft FrontPage (pour one out for that fallen soldier).

Modern editors boast AI assistance, real-time collaboration, and even some decent code output. But before you jump on the WYSIWYG bandwagon faster than a JavaScript framework reaches version 1.0, let's talk about why many professional developers and companies are still choosing to hand-code their content.

Today's Web Development isn't just about throwing some HTML/CSS on a page and calling it a day. We're dealing with:

• SSR with frameworks like Next.JS and Remix
• Web Components and Custom Elements
• Shadow DOM encapsulation
• CSS Container Queries and Cascade Layers
• React Server Components
• Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
• Edge Computing and CDN first architectures

Sure, modern WYSIWYG editors claim to handle these technologies, much like how I claim I'll start going to the gym next week. The reality? They often generate code that fights against these modern paradigms rather than working with them.

Let's talk about the elephant in the room - the absolutely mind-boggling feature paywalls that still exist in 2025. If WYSIWYG editors were a video game, they'd be winning awards for the most aggressive microtransactions in history just a bit behind Electronic Arts (EA).

The "Basic Features? Never Heard of Her" Package

Want to know what's still behind paywalls in 2025? Buckle up, because this ride is about to get wild:

1. Table of Contents Generation

   • In 2025, WYSIWYG editors are still charging extra for Table of Contents functionality. Yes, you heard it right! Something that can be whipped up with <ul> and <li> tags and a pinch of JavaScript is locked behind a paywall. It’s like being charged extra at a restaurant for providing you with… a menu.
   • WYSIWYG Editor: "That'll be just $29.99/month for our 'Premium Navigation Package'"
   • You can do this with JavaScript for free:
     

     const headers = document.querySelectorAll('h2, h3, h4'); const toc = headers.map(h => `<li>${h.textContent}</li>`).join('');

   • Me: "I just saved you $360/year with 2 lines of code"

2. Version History Tracking

   • Want to track your changes in a WYSIWYG editor? Be ready to shell out for a history tracking feature. Seriously, even in 2025, these editors are charging for something Git and GitHub have been doing for decades—for free.
   • WYSIWYG Editor: "Only $49.99/month for our 'Professional History Suite'"

   • Meanwhile using Git:

     git add . git commit -m "Changed a comma to a period. Very important." git push

   • Imagine explaining to your manager:
     • Manager: "Why is the budget overrun?"
     • You: "Oh, we spent it on a feature that Git offers for free."
     • Manager: Cancels WYSIWYG Editor subscription.
   • Cost: Free (plus the priceless ability to write sarcastic commit messages)

3. Advanced Numbering Systems

   • WYSIWYG Editor be like: "You will unlock hierarchical numbering for just $39.99/month!"
   • Guess what? You’ll need to cough up extra cash for this "premium" feature. It's almost laughable—like charging someone extra for counting past 10. Meanwhile, hand-coders are busy chuckling as they create these lists with <ol> and type="1"
   • You can do achieve "hierarchical numbering" by just using some CSS
     

     <style> body { counter-reset: section; } h1 { counter-reset: subsection; } h1::before { counter-increment: section; content: counter(section) ". "; } h2::before { counter-increment: subsection; content: counter(section) "." counter(subsection) " "; } </style>

   • Cost: The time it takes to drink a coffee while writing this CSS

"But wait!" I hear you cry, "Modern WYSIWYG editors have AI now! They can generate perfect code!"

Ah yes, the AI promise. While AI integration has indeed improved code output, it's created its own set of challenges. And on top of that AI blogging tools are a bit expensive and after paying for that the challenges aren't solved.

Modern AI-powered WYSIWYG editors sometimes try to be too clever, generating:

• Overly complex CSS selectors that compete with your existing styles
• Unnecessary JavaScript polyfills "just in case"
• Automated accessibility fixes that actually break ARIA relationships
• SEO "optimizations" that conflict with your site's existing SEO strategy

It's like having an overeager intern who's learned just enough to be dangerous. Sure, they're trying to help, but suddenly your simple blog post has enough JavaScript to launch a space shuttle which is about to crash in an ocean.

The modern Web Development landscape is more complex than ever.

We're not just building for Web Browsers anymore, we are also building for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.

When your content needs to work across:

• Traditional Web Browsers
• Modern Web Browsers
• Native Mobile Apps
• Progressive Web Apps
• Voice Assistants
• Screen Readers
• Wearable Devices
• Smart Displays

WYSIWYG editors often generate code that's about as portable as a concrete life jacket. While they might offer "convert to mobile" options, the result usually requires more cleanup than a teenager's bedroom.

In 2025, web performance isn't just about page load times but it's also about:

• Core Web Vitals
• Edge Computing optimization
• Data usage efficiency
• Runtime performance
• Memory management
• Carbon footprint (yes, that's a thing now)

Modern WYSIWYG editors often include:

• Bloated JavaScript bundles for basic functionality
• Redundant CSS that fights with your design system
• Extra HTTP requests for functionality you don't need
• Unnecessary DOM elements that impact rendering performance
• Memory leaks from poorly optimized real-time collaboration features

It's like ordering a salad but getting a whole farm delivered to your door.

Modern web security is no joke, and WYSIWYG editors can be like leaving your front door open with a "Free Cookies Inside" sign.

By 2025, it’s clear that while WYSIWYG Editors have come a long way in accessibility and ease of use, they remain a wallet-draining option for Cross-Platform support. From bloated code to features that should be free, the hidden costs add up quickly.

For Developers who value control, flexibility, and, most importantly, their bank accounts, hand-coding remains the ultimate power move. After all, nothing beats the satisfaction of building something from scratch—without a single paywall in sight.

The future isn't about avoiding WYSIWYG entirely - it's about using the right tool for the right job. Sometimes that means hand-coding your content, sometimes it means using a WYSIWYG interface, and sometimes it means building your own content editing solution.