Except what part is that? Having to download 4 or 5 projects to build, compile, and run 'basic' pages is too much bloat; not to mention the dependency hell.
It more and more seems to me like node was made 'because we can' instead of providing something. This can be seen with all of the cruft required; a lot made as an after-thought.
Package manager, npm; which itself has proven that... it wasn't designed too well. The reliance of it creates the cruft. Add in the fact that a web server shouldn't be event driven. I (personally) haven't seen any other language do an event-driven web; and I'd say, for good reason (callback hell.)
Javascript itself is okay because it's a requirement today for web pages to the average joe. However, if the Javascript foundation is merging; it'll their motto to use it (Node.)