It appears to me that you are very strongly projecting your fears based on past experience into the future. This can already be managed at the browser layer (w

It appears to me that you are very strongly projecting your fears based on past experience into the future. This can already be managed at the browser layer (we didn't use to have a mute control on the tab before), and those controls will likely be tightened in the unlikely case that this still gets out of hand. As mentioned by OP, please don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Web experiences aren't designed like they were in the wild west of the nineties anymore. This is for very specific kinds of experiences - as you know, the web is an app platform nowadays, so certain experiences can clearly benefit from this without ruining anyone's day. I actually agree with you about the sticky navbar - though also with caveats. The core point of all UX design is context. In some situations you have the real estate to play with and the sticky navbar can actually support more fluid navigation. When there is less screen real estate, you should be responsible and detect it. Not everyone will. That's okay, they will pay the price every bad design pays in the market - loss of customers.