I have no clue of "webflow" purpose based on it's marketing/buzzword filled landing page, but seems it's just a "no code" abstraction on top of HTML/CSS?
yet another SaaS that really does not need to be online 24/7. It could have been a simple app where you could "no code" on local machine and async state with webflow servers.
It's painful to use, but lets non-technical clients edit copy and create content in a safe environment. There's a runtime CMS types creator and a WYSIWYG html editor with facility for code blocks from global to inline scopes. Also comes with batteries included deploy. It's basically a one or two levels higher Squarespace/Wix
if you have a web based SaaS, everyone gets the updates. if you have a "simple app", then you are dependent on all of the users being up to date which you just cannot guarantee. also, what is a "simple app" that does not care about differences among various OSes found in the wild? how large of a team do you need for each of those OSes to support as wide of a user base as a web only app?
the customer can self-determine just fine using a web based SaaS no-code website builder. it's not like this is a different type of app. the thing is making a website that is more also hosted by the maker of the app. if you want to make a website to host on your own servers, then you are not the target audience of the web app.
you're like the person complaining that the hammer isn't very useful for driving in the screw. you need a different tool/app if you want to make a site you host yourself
yet another SaaS that really does not need to be online 24/7. It could have been a simple app where you could "no code" on local machine and async state with webflow servers.