Well, I've yet to see a video player done in a browser that didn't use the <video> element, or call out to some native plugin (flash, or realplayer, quicktime e

Well, I've yet to see a video player done in a browser that didn't use the <video> element, or call out to some native plugin (flash, or realplayer, quicktime etc back in the day). I wouldn't be surprised if it had been attempted by just changing the contents of an <img> or something, but I don't think anybody would call that a sane way to play video. So clearly the original document system was not actually suitable for building things like video players - that functionality had to be added in later (implemented in native C++ of course) and exposed with an API because the web platform itself wasn't powerful enough to do it. Anyway, I never said the web as an app platform can't be done. I'm asking if it is a good idea, and if we are fully considering the tradeoffs involved (i.e. a bit of 'engineering'). I don't find 'because we can' a great reason when it comes to things that affect the lives of most computer using people. A higher level of responsibility is involved in these situations than somebodies experimental spare time github repos. I could sit here and think of a dozen feasible ways to get water from ground level to the first floor of my house. It wouldn't be 'toxic to progress' to point out that there are better ways than an archimedes screw powered by a horse in the garden. Thinking about better ways to do things rather than just blundering forwards with the first idea that comes to mind is exactly how progress is made.