[hn_throwaway_99]

FWIW, when I first started getting into TypeScript from plain JS in 2019, I had a similar feeling. Part of it was that I was dealing with some object types of libraries I was using that were already quite complex. And, given all of the advancements in TS over the past few years, writing new types can be quite difficult - there is just a ton there. E.g. TypeScript's type language is famously turing complete.

That said, I absolutely love TypeScript, even just for small personal projects. The value I get from VSCode typeahead, and being able to look up the expected fields on, for example, parameters or return values of a function is invaluable, never mind its power in refactoring.

I guess I would recommend that, if in the beginning, you feel a bit overwhelmed by TS and can't yet see its value, just give it some time. At least, that's what happened to me.