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spot on. plus using a lot of js because they don't know html and css (or just very superficially). :-)

JS is necessary to maintain state, can this be done with CSS and HTML?

Also, I'd say that manipulation of CSS classes and HTML elements with JS gives the developer quite a strong understanding of them.

Once again the confusion between "HTML document" and "Web App" bites again. A NYT article does not needs client side state.

You can get away with much less state with minimal JS like HTMX