There are lots of places international eSIM's are a pain. Either they only connect to a tiny mobile network that doesn't even cover some cities, or they require you to get some "mobile telephone licence" before they work, or speeds are 0.1 Mbps only, or they just won't work because the esim provider never tested them in Uzbekistan etc.
Buying a local SIM at the airport is equally a pain, but by combining both techniques you have more chance of a working connection.
The Silent Link esim is kind of a handy thing. Can use most networks in most countries, the credit doesn't expire even if you don't use it for years. It's pay as you go per MB. Not as cheap per MB as a local sim though.
I’ve bought local SIMs in three dozen countries and while it sometimes takes 30 minutes of photocopying my passport and whatever, they’ve always worked flawlessly. Around $1/GB.