I don't even think these people understand what they think they are criticizing. Leveraging external code doesn't make something less impressive -- the extent in which you can leverage other code like graphics APIs is what becomes impressive.

I suppose they think they are being some sort of technical pedant, but surely anyone with any actual technical chops knows otherwise.

Yes it does.

Example: My new language "Crysislang". It has only one one-bit instruction. That, when compiled, results in a whole Crysis game.

A whole 3D shooter! Written in only one bit! Ain’t I amazing? ;))

I think you get my point.

If your libraries and environment do all the work, writing a small program that does big things approaches triviality.

That is true. They are quite a different beast than HTML5 though. Not much left to code yourself there.

It’s the difference between using Canvas, and writing Canvas.