I never said Plex is google-level enshittification, don't project words in my mouth. What is a fact though is that it is undergoing enshittification and that it's a buggy mess and video transcoding might work for you, but it's a well known source of pain for others. It could be better on Jellyfin too, but nowhere near as difficult to set up, even on weird/unsupported systems.

UI screams no designer

Idk what you're on about, not even LTT Linus pointed out any issues with the UI and he is no Linux CLI wizard.

If anything it's far simpler to use than Plex because it doesn't have the dark pattern bullshit into it.

You load the app, you hit movies or TV shows, hit your favourite movie or TV show and play. It's not complicated at all, no need to click past the various upsells and no need to buy battle passes just to watch a film.

The only thing this supposed absence of a "UI designer" seems to have brought is the absence of upsells and enshittification/dark patterns.