> The ability to use plugins is no quality in itself

Theoretically no, practically, it is since someone is indeed more likely to extend the functionality via a plugin since the barrier is lower vs. adding the same thing to the core Also, for some things that someone could also be you

> Helix aims to have an out of the box experience that would take you hours or even days if you are fresh to vim.

Or you'd just copy the plugins/configs of someone who spend those days already, just like in those astro-space-packages you mentioned