I think either vanilla js, or the other route, a full blown batteries included, like Visual Basic 6 was for windows development. Either abstract away nothing,

I think either vanilla js, or the other route, a full blown batteries included, like Visual Basic 6 was for windows development. Either abstract away nothing, or everything. In the middle, is developing with a framework. The problem is you have to know the language + the peculiarities of the framework. New frameworks and "features" happen on too short a timeframe. And, frankly, it costs too little to just invent a new framework. So, 10000 frameworks. There is a mental cost that increases exponentially with every layer of abstraction. When people have to post questions about why they can't understand such "features" of panacea x , that's the problem.