Running GitHub Actions locally has become a complex issue for developers, especially when trying to debug CI failures. Many users report challenges with platform mismatches (such as running on M-series Macs) and difficulties in replicating the CI environment accurately. Tools like Act, which aims to enable local execution, are effective for simple workflows but fall short with more complex ones. Users express a desire for improved local execution support from GitHub, feeling that the current capabilities lead to frustration and hinder their development process. There's also a notion that alternative solutions, like the `pixi` tool, seek to simplify CI tasks but haven't succeeded in fully replacing GitHub Actions. Overall, executing GitHub Actions locally remains a source of frustration due to differences in execution environments and the intricacies of CI workflows.