We've transitioned from Angular to ReactJS with great success. Much smaller learning curve. Using Backbone to handle the models and React for the view is a great combination.
one thing React by itself can do that React+Backbone.Model can't, is handle oddly shaped state. Which is almost all of your state, once your application becomes nontrivial.
Most approaches I've seen use `forceUpdate` although it is arguably more React-ish to [pass along pure JSON][1].
We're currently sticking with passing JSON top-down and calling `renderComponent` when model changes so `props` never mutate.
What is your experience with this?
[1]: (http://stackoverflow.com/a/21710111/458193)