Yes yes, everything that's happening now has happened before with other technologies. Except this time:
1. it's in a runtime that is in more machines than any other in history.
2. can be loaded instantaneously with no installation procedures.
3. and no plugins
4. On almost any platform, linux, mac, windows, ios, android, windows phone, blackberry, palm, chrome OS, even game consoles. Including the nintendo DS!
5. is broadly accessible to people with various kinds of disabilities
6. doesn't require a team of 20 engineers taking 4 years to build. (which other tech has achieved, and arguably much better, but not combined with the other things above)
7. Works on miniature computer machines small enough to fit in your pocket, and can download your app wirelessly. From the air. in your pocket. FROM FUCKING OUTER SPACE
(incidentally, did HN skip out on the whole ordered list notation of markdown?)
edit;
To add a couple more points:
* SEARCH ENGINES can automatically index your shit.
* We have these things called hyperlinks which allow automatic, ubiquitous and pervasive interoperation everywhere.
I see a common pattern on HN where whenever the topic of javascript comes up, all you see is pages and pages of wretching about how AWFUL it is, and how you could do X in Y language Z years ago already. That's not the hacker spirit. A hacker looks at what's out there, and what's possible, shuts up, and builds something awesome with it. (and then wretches about how awful it was)
In fact, the WORSE the underlying technology used to build something awesome, the more proud the hacker is that they achieved it. Where's that spirit?
Sure it's not as nice to program in as your favourite language or environment, but it's come a long damn way. would you give it a minute?