This analysis shows that many popular websites are now loading 20+ JavaScript libraries! UR DOING IT WRONG!!!

I have also heard that many popular webdev courses teach this sort of bad development from day one. :(

Are frameworks the culprit?

Even worse, if you use anyscript or noscript, there's sites that even do it insecurely that trigger click-jacking security protocols.   The absolute worst thing that happened is taking some client side javascript technology and transition it to the server as server side javascript frameworks.    It's like the blind leading the blind.

What will bring sanity back to JavaScript?

Or do we have to wait for the Codecademy bubble to burst?

Sanity will return as the pendulum swings back from imperative, towards declarative; once many of the more common reasons for choosing script fall away because it's simpler (and faster) to do it in HTML.

http://www.coactus.com/blog/2007/08/mobile-ajax-workshop-position-paper/

I hear this guy knows or thing or two about the Web;

http://infrequently.org/2012/04/bedrock/

Thanks Mark, you assuage my fears a little.

It sure does feel like we've been espousing this point of view for 20 years.