That's not required. The site could use a redirect to set such a cookie, or could use the DNT header to identify this.
JS is also used for things that are doable with CSS or even HTML only. This isn't the first time.
My tin-foil hat persona suspects it's yet another way to force me to disable the various script and ad-blockers in the guise of protecting users for privacy concerns. But my more realistic side assumes this is just laziness.