I agree. HTTP, like many core internet protocols was designed to work with any client setup, even someone sitting at a telnet terminal sending hand-rolled HTTP

I agree. HTTP, like many core internet protocols was designed to work with any client setup, even someone sitting at a telnet terminal sending hand-rolled HTTP requests. FTP is just the same, and SMTP, etc. While very few people these days will actually wind up using telnet to access network resources, it is a very successful design and one which ought not be abandoned without considerable thought.