i'd say it really depends on the website you're building and what you define as "using javascript"

are you comparing fully client rendering vs SSR without client JS at all? are you building a marketing site or a dashboard type tool?

there is subtly to why each decision would be made based on these.

i think HN tends to demonize JS because we're all well aware of how bad the state of a lot of web apps have become with developers only knowing react and having no background in web fundamentals or accessibility.

i see no reason to completely shun JS, just use it intentionally and not reflexively.