Since 2005 JavaScript has become the underground Lingua Franca of Internet.
And now the underground is reaching the surface, JavaScript isn't that slow anymore.
At this point, I see no solution to escape it. I agree, unfortunately, you must use JavaScript. Or die in obscurity (that later one is a little bit an exageration).
It simply "makes sense" to have the client do as much of the job as possible so that the server does as little as possible.
* rich interactions without back-and-forth server trips.
* What's on client-side can technically be saved on client-side. Thus, making distributed setup possible. And that contributes to lower bandwidth bill.
* client hardware is no longer wimpy, why not use all those CPU cycles on users' laptop/iphone/ipad/android/etc.
And now the underground is reaching the surface, JavaScript isn't that slow anymore.
At this point, I see no solution to escape it. I agree, unfortunately, you must use JavaScript. Or die in obscurity (that later one is a little bit an exageration).
It simply "makes sense" to have the client do as much of the job as possible so that the server does as little as possible.