And that’s a bad thing?
The desktop is finally catching up with the more restrictive permissions model where an app doesn’t just have the ability to do anything the user can do but instead only has access to what it needs.
Going with a familiar interface style like the ones people already use on mobile just makes sense.
What would you want it to look like instead?
Another KOReader recommendation here. I typically use it on an eink device but also have it on my phone and it works well.
Looks like for syncing there’s a plugin:
https://github.com/koreader/koreader/wiki/Progress-sync