So you’d prefer one file with all models? Do you break out into apps for business logic? Keep models in one app/file. Then domain driven design elsewhere?
I’m wondering - have you ever tried a batteries included backend framework + react? So maybe ror, Django, laravel, spring boot, etc? At what point is it too much racking on various node packages vs just using a proven backend framework + openapi? Then run wild with react on the frontend.