ive been using kodi (xbmc was better moniker) since google killed sagetv. i recall attempting plex, but it seemed to lack some open/extensibility (its been awhile).
i have a side project i want to make as a modular plugin generating a cable layout with original air orders and networks/channels... kodi seems most optimal, but ill admit its been a long while since i looked at plex.
I used XBMC/Kodi for about 10 years until I tried Plex about a year ago. Kodi's filesystem-centric view on media feels outdated in a world where almost all software is using intelligent search and filtering along with natively supported media info imports. This stuff is possible with Kodi too, but the plugin interface feels dated too. I also found it to be a resource hog on embedded devices.
But Plex has its flaws too. It swings the needle too far in the direction of Netflix-y for my liking, which is why I recently tried Jellyfin.
Jellyfin is a perfect medium between the two approaches in my experience of using it for a few months. I'd recommend any Kodi users who are wary of Plex to try it out.
i like a more backwards compatible, safety first setup, so the file/folder structure lends itself to this.
IE, all my media is stored in a standardized way... and included in those physical files are all metadata...in NFOs and in the mkv containers where applicable.
Then, the databases are built on top of that. if anything ever goes wrong in the more complex layers, you can quickly rebuild from source files.
you then also have multiple sources of metadata access for subsequent systems (jellyfin).
I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing. Most data hoarders / homelabbers I know, myself included are using radarr/sonarr etc. to do the cataloguing and metadata selection, with any necessary encoding automation on top. This also leads to a uniform folder and file structure for all of your media and metadata.
I just don't find this that useful when browsing and watching from a television or tablet, so I don't use Kodi to that end.
It's certainly useful for backups and migrations but we don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater where Kodi is concerned.