Major npm version bumps have landed mid-stream for node in the past: v18.19.0[1] and v20.10.0[2] bumped npm 9 to 10.
[1]: https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v18.19.0#npm-updated-to-v... [2]: https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v20.10.0
16 karma · joined April 4, 2018
[1]: https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v18.19.0#npm-updated-to-v... [2]: https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v20.10.0
But if you're already following the os + cpu + optionalDependencies model to distribute your precompiled binaries you should be fine.
It made sense to me, as I was under the impression that the money went directly to the park. But the fact that it goes to a middleman changes things.