[junto]

We are still using the original ASP.NET MVC extensions that they released as open source before they went on to develop Kendo.

I've used a fair few .NET controls from various vendors and they all are challenging in different ways. The common problem is that they force you to do things in a particular way.

If I was to rebuild our product it would not be using any of this heavy backend style server controls.

It is history as far as I can see. JavaScript front-end frameworks and REST services even with .NET is where Microsoft seem to be headed as well.