It's not squashing innovation, it's just that for selling stuff how many users use the site is far more important than how it looks, or the latest AJAXy widget.

It's not squashing innovation, it's just that for selling stuff how many users use the site is far more important than how it looks, or the latest AJAXy widget. Or a JSON API. Or whatever other fancy pants stuff your advisors say you need. Craigslist is a massively profitable business, businesses don't exist to drive innovation, they exist to pool resources to make more money than each contributor could individually. Craigslist's only problem is that it disproves the opinion of the OP day in day out and serves as shining beacon reminding people that fancy buttons aren't the only way to make money. It doesn't even have a Pin it button, how faux pas.