That's simply not true. "we" are misusing HTML to create applications because the tooling and distribution are so good. ReactNative / NativeScript, and probably more allow you to create apps using native or html implementations of the interface.

It's just that people start with HTML, and then it's just easy so slap Electron around it.

Think of ReactNative / NativeScript like QT/wxWidgets but they are compatible with html too