The debate on whether Home Assistant can be used by non-programmers and beginners alike to automate the connected home has been rendered moot by the April and May 2022 system updates. From my perspective, it is no longer a viable argument to compare Home Assistant to SmartThings or HomeKit or Hubitat in the context of which platform is easier to used by those without programming skills. Thus, from here on, I believe the debate should now focus on user preference and less so the complexity of the underlying platform since a learning curve is inevitable on any of them.
The Home Assistant user interface or frontend has been completely redesigned, making configuration of the system accessible to all users and in a manner that is similar to other competing platforms. While it remains possible to continue to use scripting tools such as Appdaemon and YAML to configure automations, in most cases, that too is increasingly becoming a matter of user choice and no longer out of necessity due to prior system limitations. And at the current rate of development for Home Assistant, where each subsequent update has resulted in major improvements over each succeeding version, both the usability and automation capabilities of Home Assistant will continue to exceed current offerings on the IOT market without a doubt.
If you are a new user to smart home technology or you are a current user of a competing system such as SmartThings and you have been hesitant to make the jump, those fears can now safely be put to the side. Thanks to the relentless and unmatched commitment of a dedicated group of developers, the learning curve to get up and going with Home Assistant should be no more difficult than it would have been on any other platform. So, to you I say, fear no more. Come on-board and bring your imagination to the party as we create smarter home automations, one motion at a time!