Super interesting, what you're saying about the OpenType Sanitizer – i'd wondered why it appears you can't use bitmapped fonts in browsers (although another commenter claims you can – i don't know either way).
I'll have a look at Bits'N'Picas, thanks for the heads up!
AFAIK bitmapped fonts can be rendered in-browser, but only if they're installed on the host (aka the 'old' way), not as css webfonts. Embedding bitmap strikes in a TrueType font is a neat trick used by e.g. Terminus, and by many CJK fonts shipped with Windows, etc., but the browser sanitizer thing just strips them - more info here: https://stackoverflow.com/a/57930594
(Unfortunately this type of font has its pitfalls even outside of the browser. E.g. Windows makes you jump through a completely unreasonable series of hoops to make them work: https://int10h.org/blog/2016/01/windows-cleartype-truetype-f...)