> Now given $startingCount is reactive, it would mean that $count might reset each time an incoming change to $startingCount occurs. That might not be desirable, so Ripple provides a way to untrack reactivity in those cases: ...

This automatic reactivity thing is really what makes these frameworks more complex than they need to be.

I'd much rather handle all re-rendering calls manually. It's more work for me, but at least I don't work with a chain-reacting foot gun that's hidden in a black box.