Are we over-engineering with modern CSS?

A web developer reflects on community backlash after using modern CSS techniques to build a wrapper/container component. The original solution used complex CSS functions like min() and ch units in a way that confused junior developers, prompting a discussion about whether clever CSS is over-engineering when it adds no practical value. The author explores a middle-ground approach using CSS custom properties with fallbacks and logical properties to allow easy modifiers, while acknowledging the tension between showcasing modern CSS capabilities and writing maintainable, readable code.