Are we all just pretending GA4 makes sense?

GA4’s been out for a while now, but using it still feels like navigating a maze with blindfolds on.

Depending who you ask:

Some people say it’s a confusing mess—every report feels like a puzzle, and even seasoned marketers are struggling.

Others argue GA4 is powerful if you know how to work with APIs, BigQuery, or use Looker Studio dashboards… but that’s a big “if.”

Then there are folks saying we’re complaining too much—GA4’s free, future-proof, and the best available (unless you want to pay for an expensive alternative).

What I’m really wondering: are most of us actually using it effectively, or are we just getting by with templates, hacks, and third-party tools?