You are so absolutely right. For content focused sites (specifically excluding things that really have to be done all client-side), it is practically always be

You are so absolutely right. For content focused sites (specifically excluding things that really have to be done all client-side), it is practically always better to use pjax/hijax to enhance a server-rendered app. As far as what's available now, I find that intercooler.js provides the right balance. So much of the SPA ecosystem seems to exist to solve self-created problems.