Really ancient web developers know that Javascript adds hardly anything to most web pages. Some HTML, CSS, a few iframes (or just frames!) and form POST, and you've got a web site that's faster than most of today's junk.
I think my reaction to modern Javascript is to just ... don't.
They want functionality, but they don't care if the functionality is brought to them with a SPA built on the latest JS fart or some older than two years stack.
While I love web/JS-only "apps", You are absolutely right! If you are not making a game like for example agar.io, you will be just fine with a static HTML page, or "old school" server rendered web app.
I think my reaction to modern Javascript is to just ... don't.