They're better than nothing but compared to the html-esque layouts in Android they're much harder to write, read and debug.

I would beg to differ. I much prefer to work with AutoLayout constraints rather than some custom XML layout like with Android or WP.

YMMV but when the presenter of the WWDC AutoLayout track had to dig into Instruments to find out why his layout was throwing exceptions I felt like I was watching some kind of really nerdy April fools joke.