> The point of JQuery is that I don't have to think about the various (slightly) incompatible implementations
Sure when jQuery was released in 2006, but browsers have had 12 years to improve their compatibility, and they have. Javascript has also had 12 years to improve and simplify its api, and it has.
Your analogy was perfect for jQuery 2006 but in 2018 its more like buying a car to drive around the city or you can just take an Uber, you don't have to walk anymore.
If someone is developing web applications in such a way that they need support from their browser vendor to make them work properly ... they're doing it wrong.
Also don't forget mobile browsers. I ran into a strange problem where Samsung's "Internet" didn't support something and could not find any online mention of this fact.
(I wish I could remember what it was. Perhaps an array method).
Sure when jQuery was released in 2006, but browsers have had 12 years to improve their compatibility, and they have. Javascript has also had 12 years to improve and simplify its api, and it has.
Your analogy was perfect for jQuery 2006 but in 2018 its more like buying a car to drive around the city or you can just take an Uber, you don't have to walk anymore.