I really did have some hope for being able to use some of the DB-like tools and integrations with Django, and even started work on using the graphics library to write an SVG converter to display on all browsers. What a dead end all that turned out to be. Libraries like lawnchair, history, and kinetic or some other canvas library just seem to run circles around the larger libs for whatever it is that the focused libs do.

I really like larger web frameworks like Django because a lot of what those frameworks provide is only won at a high-cost to the programmer if not done as part of the architecture. Going more micro means more work in those cases. Going more macro with JS when 99% of pages need a contact form is not making me feel empowered.

JS libraries are to me like single-celled organisms. Sure they spring up and die a lot, but out of all that change and natural pressure to remain small and decoupled, it's not necessary to tie one's future to any one of them if they act up. Dojo 1.8ish made me greatly loathe not being able to swap out that one misbehaving part because of commitment to the larger scheme.