Gatsby is developing themes as a new abstraction to simplify and enhance the user experience for developers by allowing them to package sites as standalone products, which can be shared or sold. Themes aim to address the limitations of the current plugin system, which doesn't allow for the composition of multiple plugins to solve more complex site requirements. By enabling a higher-level abstraction, themes will make it easier for users, especially those new to Gatsby or looking to quickly implement common use cases like blogs or e-commerce sites, to build websites without delving into complex configurations. The goal is to broaden Gatsby's accessibility and usability, making it easier for a wider range of developers, designers, and entrepreneurs to utilize its capabilities, while also fostering a community that can contribute and benefit from shared solutions. The introduction of themes is expected to drive innovation and adoption by reducing the learning curve and offering pre-configured solutions that streamline the development process.