Ah right, the `import * as` problem. That was fixed with --allowSyntheticDefaultImports. According to the docs:

> Allow default imports from modules with no default export. This does not affect code emit, just typechecking.

https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/compiler-option...

And I think you're right about decorators. They are an iffy concept in the context of JS semantics, and I personally avoid using them and try to avoid libraries that use them. That's probably why TS has them disabled by default and calls them "experimental". I like the concept of decorators in and of themselves, but they don't fit cleanly into the JS world, and I am looking forward to seeing how the JS/TS world innovates alternative "cleaner" solutions that fit better into the existing model!