Is that correct that npm 3.x with the flat node_modules isn't in the first lts tree? We're still very likely to run into path length problems on Windows?
That would be a shame. I know 3.x doesn't fix it but anything to make it less likely is a win. Now we're screwed for nearly 3 years.
We are on a roll with resizable terminals that reflow text in Windows 10 though so I won't push my luck.
For whatever their other faults, it's hard to blame Microsoft for treating backwards compatibility seriously. It's an amazing thing that in 2015 you can still run VB4-built Win32 application binaries built in 1995. (Not that I recommend people actually do so, given a choice in the matter, of course.)
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/09/22/microsoft-improves-environm...
Here is a stop-gap: