With Spring Boot a lot has been simplified, I never used Spring before that because I had similar thoughts as you.

Nowadays when I have to work without Spring (my current job doesn't use it, for example) I keep yearning for it as there's just so much productivity gains after you know the framework.

It's funny because I have said in the past the exact same arguments as you, it just comes from lack of experience. I recommend stop hating it and sincerely give a try on properly learning and using it for a while, I still have some reservations and grievances with Spring but not these shallow ones :)