Some HN audience are big on disabling javascript or other web features, but they are a vocal minority. The vast vast vast amount of average web users will not

Some HN audience are big on disabling javascript or other web features, but they are a vocal minority. The vast vast vast amount of average web users will not disable JavaScript. And those that do likely understand that they are crippling their own browsing experience, and so are more willing to accept if the site doesn't function properly under those constraints. I wouldn't go out of my way to make a site work without JavaScript, unless it was a personal project I was passionate about operating in that manner. Lite mode sounds like something that might benefit a larger chunk of users. Maybe you should do some small testing and see how much of your audience uses "LiteMode", and how many disable scripts completely, to inform your strategy.