HTML is one of these technologies that (still) feels pregnant with infinite possibilities. But we can't really project meaningfully what can / should happen to

HTML is one of these technologies that (still) feels pregnant with infinite possibilities. But we can't really project meaningfully what can / should happen to the web platform (and the role of HTML in it) without considering the tortured trajectory it already has traversed, e.g., the major XHTML vs HTML5 (or W3C vs WHATWG) battles, its more recent "annihilation" in the hands of SPA and JS frameworks and the multiple roles it can play. In a sense HTML is too powerful for its own good. So prevailing interests will always try to tame it towards their own needs. HTML is the conduit and enabler of at least three distinct functionalities that are made available by a decentralized internet comprising clusters of server and client machines: * transmitting the information to implement hypertext (=the simplest implementation of linked textual documents). This transmission of linked natural language data has changed the world already and is sufficient to support e.g., a planet of interconnected bloggers. HTML purists (like the OP) focus on this angle but this is very limiting and will never unlock all the positive potential of the web. * transmitting semantically annotated non-text data of all types (numerical, graphical, objects etc). This vision has never really materialized in either its XHTML or SVG guises. Today the only hint that HTML is capable of transmitting such data is the table element. Yet it has enough in-principle semantics to transmit any JSON object. * transmitting UI elements. Why do we need UI elements at all and are they intrinsically evil? The core function of UI elements, both the semantic aspect (hierarchical relations) and the geometric aspect (i.e. CSS and mapping stuff to a 2D screen) are essential and entirely benign. They simply help organize more complex patterns. HTML ultras that avoid CSS essentially rely on default such mappings. Imho an alternative vision to the degenerate web of today that is simply the funnel that gets you to the walled gardens built by adtech (actually humanity grinding machines) must stop being naive, simplistic and Luddite. In all these web technologies of yesterday you can trace battles that were lost, paths not taken. The web we want is an empowering, democratic, decentralized platform that respects and elevates individuals in the digital realm. This web is not tech-phobic. It is confident and develops / adopts any and all technologies that fit is values. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHATWG https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHATWG