I use Node-RED in combination with home assistant, for automations.
It's sometimes overly complicated to follow the flows, or do something relatively simple, but otherwise it's a nice middle ground between built in YAML based automations, and something like AppDaemon which requires writing python scripts.
The new UI editor is a better experience than yaml, but still has limitations that make node-red valuable for more complex automations. In particular juggling timers, state, and Boolean conditions with HA automations can be kind of awkward as they require you to coordinate across multiple automations, but very easy in node-red.
All in all I use both. I use the native ones for simpler automations (exterior lights on at dusk, blinds up at sunrise, etc.j and node red for the complex stuff (bathroom fan on for 5 minutes unless if the door is closed or the humidity is above 65%, turn off two minutes after the door is opened and the humidity is below 60%j.
I find myself prototyping automations in Node Red before "productionising" the code in YAML. It's great for visualising flows but nothing beats automations running directly within HA. One fewer service to crash.
It's sometimes overly complicated to follow the flows, or do something relatively simple, but otherwise it's a nice middle ground between built in YAML based automations, and something like AppDaemon which requires writing python scripts.