I am someone in a similar position in that I had not used and true NAS software. I did inherit a unraid setup previously but I didn't really want to learn networking. I think I have gotten to the point that simple is my number one requirement because I If the developers first make HexOS simple to install, they will have my attention. While my Plex and Immich installs are probably incomplete, I am much farther than I would have been without the work HexOS did for me. After installing those apps all I did was copy pictures and Videos to folders HexOS told me to. Again, I acknowledge my setup is missing some remote access but I will get there. In addition to this it looks like the HexOS devs are working on adding more apps and functions to their recommended list. To me this sounds like in the future I may have more tools like a password manager, network tools or really anything that docker has that can improve the user experience. I won't act like I know much about the underlying TrueNas functionality and power. But even when I have found I am stuck, I have had several folks who do know what they are talking about give instructions to go threw my issues and questions.
If you are a TrueNas expert you can probably do lots that I can't do in HexOS. That will probably always be true. But it's not because HexOS in not a powerful product. I just need to get my act together to take advantage of current (and hopefully numerous future) additions that are bridging the gap between my knowledge and the expert I have gotten help from here.