While putting formulas in cells is confusing a single use script somewhere on the file system is also terrible and looking at it isn't all that obvious what is going on either. If you put everything in a db you need the ancient art of SQL Kung Fu. Great if you can, to bad if you can't. I like joins, it instantly confused the hell out of the uninitiated. You can make the query complicated enough that even a seasoned champion needs a warm up before lifting.

I remember my first thought looking at excel. They force name and number everything which is exactly like using single letter variables, they are only allowed for simple things. Using row numbers is even worse. Each additional col of numbers makes it harder to find things and it invites mistakes.

I'm not complaining, each solution survived because it has great advantages. JSON and XML have their place too ofc.

My gut says that after learning the advantages and disadvantages we should be able to make something better.

I put CSVs in html documents, use JS, run from the file system, output is CSV usually. I haven't tested the limit of html files but if you put a comment at the bottom the rendering engine ignores it efficiently.

One more bad solution for your collection.