The lack of a visual designer is actually offensive

One of the biggest complaints and requests relates to a lack of a "visual designer" for creating UIs with XAML for WinUI3 and .NET MAUI applications.

For a long time, Microsoft had no plans to build one. Although that may be changing...

There are other, related tools that they are working on but are not the designer people are asking for.

I've even heard it said (by people who are employed by Microsoft) that "these tools are better than a designer so you don't need one".

That's what I find offensive.

The claim that MS know what people want better than they know themselves. And, the implication that people are wrong about what they say they want. More importantly (and concerning) is that I don't think MS are listening to the "real" request. 

Yes, the Hot and Live tools are great for working with existing code when the app is running, but there's also a need to help with a completely blank app (or page, or window...)

There needs to be a better way to help people get started and give them confidence that what is in the source is correct before they start debugging (or even compiling?) the code.

I have worked with people creating drag-and-drop-related tools for XAML UIs, so I know what's possible and how hard it is. That's also why I'm not trying to build one myself.

I think there's another way. It's not necessarily better at first look, but it's certainly very helpful, powerful, and able to offer more productivity than arguing about why something that isn't what people are asking for isn't what they want or need.