> JS is a fine tool for making rich, interactive UIs in the browser and IMO avoiding it at all costs shouldn't be a priority

Exactly, this is 2022. I used to be one of those types running Firefox (since the late 90s) with NoScript and other extensions to have 100% ultimate control over who and who could not run JavaScript.

It's ubiquitous now, it's sandboxed, it's safe and extremely performant.

There's no reason to go backwards now.